Marouane Fellaini’s determination to show remorse for being sent off in last season’s final game at Hull City moved the Belgian to search out Louis van Gaal on the first day of his summer break to apologise.
The midfielder received a red card for violent conduct in the 0-0 draw in May after a nasty stamp on Paul McShane in an incident that angered Van Gaal.
Fellaini, who fought his way into the Dutchman’s strongest side last term, was keen to say sorry for letting down his manager, who fined him for the incident. “He was angry with me but the next day I went to talk him and said sorry,” said the 27-year-old, who visited Van Gaal’s office. “It was my idea to say sorry for the tackle and the trouble. Of course, it is something he appreciated. I let him and my team-mates down and that was not good for the team.”
Van Gaal called Fellaini stupid for the challenge on McShane. “Yeah, I know, and it was stupid,” Fellaini said. “When I received the card, I got to the dressing room and knew already that I had been stupid and it was a stupid sending-off.”
The three-match suspension Fellaini received makes him unavailable until 30 August, when United visit Swansea City. By then he may find it difficult to be selected as the arrivals of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin have increased competition in midfield.
For Friday’s 1-0 tour victory over Club América in Seattle Fellaini was not used despite Van Gaal deploying a different XI in each half, the manager stating a need to assess other players because of the suspension.
“That’s football, you know?” said Fellaini. “We have some great players, so I have to fight for my place, that’s it.” He thinks fitness will not be affected by being unable to play in the opening league matches, and is available to play in United’s Champions League play-off round games in August.
“No, I am fine, because I train every day. I have trained now for two weeks and slowly I will get there. It is just important that I don’t have any injuries and that I am fit when I start my season. The pre-season is important because I need to be fit for all the season and working hard now makes that easier to achieve.”
Last year’s resurgent form caused United fans to change their view of Fellaini. “It started early, in October, when I scored the goal at West Brom,” he said of the impressive finish three minutes after coming on at half-time in a 2-2 draw. “From that moment, I felt confidence and good with the team and my team-mates. I have always felt good with the players at United, but with the supporters it was difficult a little bit when I arrived. It changed and we did some great things as a team and finished fourth with a great manager. I tried hard to be in the team and the manager trusts me.”
Fellaini states that United have to stop losing “stupid” matches to claim a 21st championship. “We didn’t start the season too well but in the end we finished strong,” he said. “But we lost some stupid games last season and if we hadn’t done that we would have been at the top of the table. But that is English football.
“We have to win every game at Old Trafford if we want to be competing for the title. For the rest, we don’t have to win every game away, but we know we need to win a lot of them if we are to be on top of the table.
“Two years ago [under David Moyes] teams came to Old Trafford and they thought it was easy. But last season, especially over the final few months, some big teams came to Old Trafford and did not get a chance to win. We saw that and I hope we will show that again this season. It has to be that way. We have to make it complicated for opponents at home.”
