With rumors circulating about Marouane Fellaini heading to Turkey, what’s next for the big Belgian, and is Jose Mourinho right to want to keep him?
Last week rumors surfaced that Marouane Fellaini had already played his last match for Manchester United, and would be heading to Galatasaray. Jose Mourinho dispelled those rumors, stating the Turkish club were more likely to get him than Fellaini. However, the signing of Nemanja Matic has left many wondering whether or not Fellaini will be back next season.
So is Mourinho right to want to keep Fellaini? The answer is a simple yes.
While Fellaini will be facing stiffer competition at the defensive midfielder position, this allows United to be more flexible in their choice of formation. They played a good portion of last season with a lone defensive midfielder, and signing Matic while keeping Fellaini would allow them to shift to a 4-2-3-1, if necessary.
This formational flexibility, and newfound depth in defensive midfield, will allow players like Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick to play in more advanced roles as well. Although both Herrera and Carrick were efficient sitting deep, United would be better served by having them as true central midfielders, being able to control the pace of play higher up the field.
So why would Mourinho even want to sell Fellaini? It’s no secret many supporters don’t appreciate the aggressive and sometimes clumsy Belgian. But he plays an important role under Mourinho, which is exactly why he’s right to keep him at Old Trafford.
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Even if the formation change is only situational, having Fellaini come off the bench has proven, for the most part, to be an effective tool in Mourinho’s park the bus strategy. He exudes a sense of strength, and his physicality is not taken lightly by opposing players.
While Fellaini may never be the flashiest player, he has an important role to play, and he knows that. He’s disciplined in his positioning, doesn’t lose possession, makes smart and simple passes and is a fantastic tool to have on set pieces and when defending aerial bombardments toward the end of matches.
Given the way United struggled with injuries toward the end of last season, there’s no sense in getting rid of a player who offers depth, tactical flexibility and an attacking plan B off the bench.