Disappointing big-money signing claims his first season at Old Trafford was ruined by injury.
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Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini expects to perform better next season after enduring a difficult debut campaign at Old Trafford.
Fellaini joined United last summer in a £27.5m move from Everton.
The 26-year-old picked up a wrist injury on just his fifth appearance for the Red Devils – a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk on October 2.
Although he carried on playing throughout the following months, he claims that his performance was hampered by the knock.
In December, he finally underwent surgery on his wrist and was subsequently sidelined until February.
“I need to be fit to be good,” Fellaini told The Telegraph. “Even when I am injured I can play, but the fitness is not the same.”
“I was injured for three months and that was a difficult moment for me.
“When you arrive in a new team you want to play, you want to stay with the team and when you can’t play it is difficult to see the team – even off the pitch. When this season finishes I will start with my preparation for the next year and it will be good.”
Fellaini has made 16 Premier League appearances for United and featured in five Champions League games.
He has yet to score for the Red Devils and has provided just one assist.
Fellaini’s first season at United has been the club’s worst ever Premier League campaign.
The 20-times champions of England will finish seventh in the table unless they win and sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur lose on the final day.
After Sunday’s final-day clash at Southampton, Fellaini will switch his focus to international matters.
He will be part of Belgium’s World Cup squad for Brazil 2014, where his side will meet Algeria, Russia and South Korea in Group H.
Belgium remained unbeaten throughout their entire World Cup qualifying campaign, seeing off Croatia, Serbia, Scotland, Wales and Macedonia in the process.
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