Marouane Fellaini deserves our respect.
Well, let’s face it, he’s done something right to command a £27.5m transfer fee and be deployed as the heartbeat of none other than Manchester United. He must have more than a swinging elbow and a good first touch. He must do. Right?
If we’re not all his biggest fans, Louis van Gaal seems to like him a little bit anyway. So what are the rest of us missing? His performance against Liverpool during the 1-1 home draw on Thursday night would suggest that we’re missing a lot. Or at least misunderstanding him a lot.
Look at it through the eyes of van Gaal.
Marouane Fellaini gets attacked by Firmino’s face
The Belgian is just going about his normal business when the Liverpool player recklessly hurls his face into Fellaini’s elbow. And nothing is done about it. Marouane is given no protection.
Firmino just attacked Fellaini's elbows with his face. Disgusting.#MUFC #LFC pic.twitter.com/N4SO5pGrPz
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 17, 2016
Marouane Fellaini gets attacked by Lovren’s head
And nothing is done about this either. In fact, Fellaini is given a yellow card for having his elbow abused yet again. There’s only one man trying to play football here.
Fellaini's elbow on the receiving end of it again.
This time Lovren has a go at him with the back of his head.#LFChttps://t.co/7ImXqzJtL9— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 17, 2016
Howard Webb brandishes Fellaini a “thug”
It’s official, the Manchester United supporters have turned on him.
“It’s one thing imposing yourself on the game, but another thing being a thug on the pitch,” former Premier League referee Howard Webb told BT Sport.
“[Fellaini] can’t play without throwing his elbows around. I think he should have been suspended for [the incident in the first leg] but UEFA never looked at it.
“But this one’s a red card. Dejan Lovren is holding him – is that an excuse to throw an arm? No, of course not.
“He clenches his fist, he puts force into the elbow, the point of the elbow into the back of the head, and he should have been sent off.”
Marouane Fellaini leading the charge
Giving his manager a couple of nicer stats to brag about after the game. Yeah, he could probably score but, come on, he’s not in the team to win headers. He’s in the team because…
Marouane Fellaini clearing his lines
If in doubt.
Marouane Fellaini carrying the ball to safety
Fellaini carries the ball to safetyhttps://t.co/40g5uhDNOy
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 17, 2016
But, despite all that, it seems like the man who loves and trusts him most in the world is ready to give up on him just when we’re all starting to appreciate Fellaini’s beauty.
The moment Louis van Gaal seemed to give up on Fellaini
It was another classic performance from the midfielder but maybe just not enough anymore. Listen to the resignation in van Gaal’s voice. A sobering realisation. A despairing, “what have I done?”
