Manchester United: Fellaini proving unexpected key to revival

Manchester United appear to have recovered, at least for now, from a poor start to the season after recording two consecutive away day wins.

Those victories at Burnley and Watford have seen Manchester United right what was a distinctly listing ship just a few weeks ago.

As expected most of the focus and praise for that revival has been on players like David de Gea and Romulu Lukaku. And they have been excellent but one player who has proved a revelation and a key to these improved performances is Marouane Fellaini.

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He has been outstanding playing in a central midfield role and bossing the middle of the park for Jose Mourinho’s side. He’s quick to cover the ground, powerful in the tackle and his distribution is excellent too. Plus he represents such an effective target at set-pieces, so crucial in the Premier League.

In particular his performance against a high-flying Watford team on Saturday was excellent. Manchester United came into that game still with questions against them, despite having beaten Burnley the week previously.

Burnley have endured a torrid start to the season and were low on confidence. Watford on the other hand had deservedly beaten United’s recent conquerors, Tottenham, in their previous match. And they still had a 100% record in the league.

So this was a much tougher test of whether Manchester United had improved. United started well and took control taking a two-goal lead with Fellaini providing an assist as well.

Watford responded well in the second half and pulled a goal back but Manchester United showed new-found resilience to hold on for the points even though Nemanja Matic was sent off in injury time.

Fellaini had played a key part in that win, both with his defensive work and his immense aerial threat and is perhaps now finally finding his ideal position playing in the heart of Mourinho’s midfield.

When he first joined Everton on deadline day back in 2008 he cost the Merseyside club a then club-record fee. But Fellaini became a player who couldn’t find a permanent place in David Moyes’ side.

He played in midfield sometimes but got a reputation for making ill-judged tackles and picking up regular bookings too. In fact it was when he was pressed into service as an emergency forward alongside Tim Cahill that he produced his best for the Toffees.

His height, power and obvious ability in the air made him a formidable threat, especially from set-pieces. His versatility was both a strength and a weakness, for the player. It meant he was often switching positions and was in and out of the Everton team.

But Moyes always had a high regard for him and when he moved to Old Trafford in the summer of 2013 he eventually took Fellaini with him.

It’s fair to say that his arrival wasn’t greeted with great enthusiasm by the Manchester United faithful.

He certainly didn’t seem a United player in the mold of those superstars like Cantona, Giggs, Beckham and Scholes who had graced Old Trafford during Sir Alex Ferguson’s years of success.

Again Fellaini has struggled to find a place in the Manchester United team, being used mainly as a battering ram of a substitute by current boss Mourinho.

But perhaps now he can finally settle in a role that does suit his qualities and he just might prove to be one of the unexpected success stories of this Premier League season.