Louis van Gaal has clearly found the crown jewel in his Manchester United team and it’s not Wayne Rooney, Angel Di Maria or even Juan Mata – it’s the in-form giant Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, the Telegraph reports.
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The 27-year-old signed for United on summer deadline day last season for a reported fee of £27.5m according to the BBC, and after difficult first 12 months at Old Trafford under former manager David Moyes, the Belgian has begun to find his feet in a Red shirt this season and has played a huge part in their recent upturn in form.
His importance to the team at the moment is for all to see, keeping Mata out of the side for long periods and when Di Maria was available again after suspension van Gaal kept faith with the former Everton man against Liverpool.
Such is Fellaini’s good form right now that the Dutch manager is reluctant to leave him out of his starting line-up:
“When he plays as he does now I can not change him.” van Gaal said in his press conference (via Telegraph) ahead of United’s game against Aston Villa on Saturday.
“He was open and he wants to perform so I am not surprised with his form. He had an unlucky season because he was injured and ill, but when fit he has always played for me because I was looking for a balance and he can give a lot of balance.” he added.