speaks to Goal about his title ambitions, Louis va
Gaal and the club's summer transfer plans
The Manchester United supporters’ chant for
Marouane Fellaini is sung to the tune of ‘do the
conga’ and it feels appropriate as the Belgian
bounces in to our interview location.
Fellaini is all smiles, high fives and hair as he
meets and greets deep in enemy territory at
Liverpool John Moores University. His identical
twin brother Mansour is, as ever, alongside him
and his only distinguishing feature is his even
thicker afro.
It is hard to imagine that Fellaini would have been
this happy and relaxed a year ago after a debut
season at United in which he was tarred by
association as the first signing of David Moyes'
disastrous time in charge.
Even last summer, Fellaini was told that he could
leave United but the 6ft 4in midfielder wanted to
stay and always believed that he would prove
himself at Old Trafford.
Now, he has become an integral part of Louis Van
Gaal’s team as they secured a top four finish this
season. There is no longer speculation about
Fellaini’s future and his focus is on how United
can challenge to win the Premier League and
Champions League next term.
“Of course we can catch Chelsea,” Fellaini tells
Goal . “We have the quality, I think we will sign
some new players, so why not? We have to.
have to.”
After all, that is why Fellaini followed Moyes from
Everton to United in 2013. He is now 27 and
desperate to win trophies before the end of his
career to add to his one Belgian title.
When I last spoke to Fellaini, he told me how he
felt he was given “no chance” by the media in his
first season at United after his €32 million transfer
from Everton.
This time, after making 31 appearances and
scoring seven goals over the course of the season
he feels that he is done with defending himself or
explaining away his difficult bedding-in period.
Instead, he wants to talk about how he can
improve to ensure that he remains a regular start
next season, especially with new signings set to
arrive and a three-match ban that will rule him ou
of the start of the campaign.
So, is he playing the best football of his career?
“No. It was a good season for me, I played with
some very good players like Wayne Rooney, Juan
Mata, Ander Herrera, Robin Van Persie...you learn
a lot from quality players.
“But I think the most important thing is how I
train, how I learn and how I play. I learned a lot
about that this season.”
He is working under a manager in Van Gaal who
demands that training during the week is as
intense as a match at the weekend. If the
Dutchman is not happy, the players will be sure t
know about it.
“He demands we give the best in training, the
same as in the game,” Fellaini explains, speaking
to Goal on the set of a New Balance Football
shoot.
“He’s like that. He likes training, he likes games i
training, he likes contact, he likes when the player
give everything and after that he’s happy.
“If not he starts to argue with players and shout!
Every day you learn something.
“Every day you have to show yourself to be the
best and a club like Manchester United has a lot
players with quality, so it’s difficult for the
manager to pick the team.”
Memphis Depay’s arrival this summer in a €30m
deal has already been announced and Fellaini say
he will “welcome” any signings that improve the
team as United plan another €200m spending
spree.
Gareth Bale is a long-term target for United and
the links have not evaded the players at Carringto
with Fellaini a huge admirer of the Real Madrid
forward’s quality.
“He’s a great player. Everyone in England knows
his quality because he played for Tottenham and
he had a great season,” says the Belgium
international. “But now he’s in Madrid, we will see
at the end of the season.
One player who could be leaving for Madrid is
goalkeeper David de Gea, who was voted as
United’s player of the year by the club’s fans and
his team-mates.
“He’s a great goalkeeper, he’s improved a lot,”
Fellaini reflects. “I remember when he arrived in
England and it’s a big difference between then and
now. I hope he will stay but in football you never
know.”
De Gea’s future may be up in the air, but this year
there are no such questions about Fellaini - and
United fans will continue to do the conga next
season.
Marouane Fellaini is a New Balance Football
player
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