Marouane Fellaini: Man United needed Louis van Gaal after David Moyes
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ByEurosport
Updated 25/03/2015 at 11:16 GMT
Marouane Fellaini believes that Louis van Gaal was the perfect man to succeed David Moyes at Manchester United.
Marouane Fellaini of Manchester United celebrates scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford on December 2, 2014 in Manchester, England (Getty)
Image credit: Getty Images
Fellaini was ex-United boss Moyes' only signing of the 2013 summer transfer window for £27.5 million from Everton.
The 26-year-old did not repay that faith, however: he failed to score in his first season at the club, and rarely performed to the level he had shown under Moyes at Everton.
But he has found his feet this season under Van Gaal with some impressive performances.
Fellaini now says that United needed a strong manager such as Van Gaal after Moyes’ travails – and has revealed how strict the Dutchman is.
“The coach is very strict, but that’s good,” he said.
“We needed such a coach.
“Last season we had a bad season. We even missed European qualification. We needed a coach who would put some players’ feet back on the ground.
"If he says something, you should do it. Otherwise you’ll fly out of it (the team).
“If he has to take you off the pitch when the game hasn’t been going on for more than 30 minutes he’ll do it. Or during half-time. Fortunately, it hasn’t happened to me yet.”
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Marouane Fellaini - David Moyes
Image credit: Reuters
The former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has himself been criticised this season but wins over top-four rivals Tottenham and Liverpool have put United in the driving seat to return to the European top table.
Moyes was axed by Manchester United in April following a dismal first season in charge at Old Trafford – he was just 10 months into a six-year contract after being named as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013.
At the time of his departure, United, the defending champions, were seventh in the Premier League and 23 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Moyes has since moved to Spain to become the manager of Real Sociedad.
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