Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has spoken to fantastic midfielder Marouane Fellaini about keeping his emotions in check when he makes his very first return to former club Everton on Saturday.
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Fellaini left Merseyside to join United in a £27 million deal in August 2013 following five years in which he became a talismanic figure at Everton.
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The Belgium international struggled for form during his first 12 months at Old Trafford under former Everton manager David Moyes and he was an unused substitute last April when United lost 2-0 at Goodison Park in what was Moyes’s last game in charge.
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He has since flourished under Van Gaal this season, scoring six times from an attacking midfield role as United have recovered from a slow start to climb up to third place in the Premier League.
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But Fellaini is expected to receive a hostile reception from the Everton supporters on Sunday and, given his occasionally fiery temperament, may also be a target for provocation from some of his former teammates.
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“I have spoken with Fellaini because I know this. Fellaini is always dry in his answers,” Van Gaal said.
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“He said ‘it’s just a game’ but I said ‘yes, but it’s a special game for you’. I hope the fans shall receive him like the Chelsea fans received Juan Mata because I like that very much. I hope it’s like that.
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“I always communicate with my players about philosophy, performance, attitude, behaviour, and maybe one or two aspects more.
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“When players believe in you they want to convince me, because every player playing for Manchester United has qualities.
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“Marouane Fellaini has qualities and we want to let those qualities dominate. That is what we are trying to do and I believe that we are doing that. That’s why his performances are better just now.”
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1 Comment
He has to. It would be a tensed atmosphere over there so he must be cautious. Sure 3 points though