Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen accuses Manchester United of misusing his international teammate.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian centre back Jan Vertonghen has attacked Manchester United over their use of his international teammate Marouane Fellaini, after the Old Trafford flop came on as a substitute for his national side and changed the game in their favour against Algeria.
According to quotes from ESPN, Vertonghen didn’t hold back in his criticism of the way that Fellaini was managed by David Moyes and Ryan Giggs last season:
“With Belgium, [we] know how to use him and I don’t know whether they do in his other team,”
“Marouane always is very important for the Belgian team. I know there has been a lot of pressure on him from the fans in England but in Belgium he always does well and scores goals.”
“I’m very pleased for him and I gave him a little hug after the game because I know that goal meant a lot to him. Marouane is a very cool guy. The pressure doesn’t really bother him too much.”
Fellaini arrived at Old Trafford in what seemed to be a rushed deadline day deal last summer, with United eventually paying upwards of £25 million for his services.
The former Standard Liege man struggled to nail down a position in the Reds’ side, either as a defensive or an attacking midfielder, but he immediately found his form when Belgium manager Marc Wilmost threw him on with his side trailing 1-0 to Algeria in Group H of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Fellaini responded to his manager’s faith with the equalising goal, rising highest in the box to glance a Kevin de Bruyne cross past the goalkeeper and in off the underside of the bar.