Another game, another late Marouane Fellaini winner for Manchester United. That was the outcome of their 1-0 victory over Young Boys at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
It was an important win for Jose Mourinho’s side, who have now booked their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
But for much of the game, it didn’t look like that winner was going to come for the Red Devils and, as we so often see, United finished the match by pumping balls up towards Fellaini as they desperately searched for a goal.
The breakthrough came in stoppage time as Romelu Lukaku flicked on a long ball from Luke Shaw into the path of the Belgian midfielder, who turned and slotted home.
This was not the first and is unlikely to be the last time that we see United win a match in this fashion, but what does Mourinho’s use of Fellaini say about his tactics and general management at Old Trafford? It has previously been described as “Championship stuff” by former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness, a tactical move unbefitting of United’s pedigree. But there can be no arguing with the fact it has proven effective on numerous occasions for United.
We’ve asked a number of our writers to explain whether they feel that Mourinho reliance on the big Belgian is embarrassing or justified.
Chris Smith (@CJSmith91)
Justified
It would seem that Marouane Fellaini’s ‘break-glass’ capabilities know no bounds. One minute, he is the midfield destroyer papering over the cracks in the Man United defence, the next he is the target man, grabbing a last-minute goal to bail Jose Mourinho out once again.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say Mourinho’s use of Fellaini is ’embarrassing’. What it does show, however, is a distinct lack of direction, both in the current squad and the recruitment at Manchester United. Despite many Red Devils’ fans dismissing him as a ‘non-United player’, Fellaini does have his qualities and more than deserves his place in their squad. The main issue is that he is nearly always the guy they turn to when chasing a goal AND defending a goal.
This lack of options shows a huge failing in Man United’s transfer dealings of late, something that desperately needs addressing. However, while that remains the case, Mourinho should continue to use his unique weapon, and he surely will.
Key stat: Fellaini’s Young Boys goal was the first last-minute winning strike for United in the Champions League since Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike against Sporting in 2007
Sam Long (@samuelplong)
Embarrassing
The big Belgian often validates his manager’s decision to introduce him late on, courtesy of some crucial goals.
But that does not mean the decision should not be questioned, as Mourinho seems to allude.
Having spent so much money should a club of United’s stature, which has been built on attacking principles, regularly be reduced to ‘throwing the big man on’?
Of course, no club in the world is immune to calling on desperate measures during desperate times but introducing a physical, aerial threat against tired legs is far from inspired.
Doing so is on page one of any coaching manual. Would Tony Pulis or Sam Allardyce receive praise for such a ‘tactical’ tweak? No.
Mourinho’s tendency to turn to Fellaini in times of need is part of a bigger problem; the Portuguese is blatantly failing to get the best out of his attacking talent.
Key stat: Fellaini’s winner on Tuesday was United’s first goal at Old Trafford in three Champions League games this season.
Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt)
Justified
José’s Mourinho’s use of Marouane Fellaini is both justified and inspired. The Belgian is hardly a brilliant player, but like Liam Neeson in Taken, he has a particular set of skills and that makes him very dangerous to pretty much everyone.
Firstly, using Fellaini as an attacking midfielder allows him to function as an offensive pivot, meaning that United can deploy a fluid front line with Marcus Rashford up front and yet retain the use of a target man for others to play off.
Secondly, of course, Fellaini is a terrifying aerial tyrant and that makes him a devastatingly effective Plan B. Hoofing long balls into the box when desperately chasing a result is usually a poor tactic, but with Fellaini around it becomes genuinely functional because defenders struggle to get to grips with the Belgian’s size and power. Marouane Fellaini may not be prestigious, but he’s plenty powerful.
Key stat: Fellaini has now scored nine match-winning goals for Manchester United.
Jack Sear (@JackSear)
Embarrassing
This may work a lot of the time, but it’s not the sort of thing that Manchester United fans will want to see very often and it only highlights just how much this team is struggling under Jose Mourinho at the moment.
Of course, Fellaini’s goal against Young Boys was an important strike in the grand scheme of things. United are now through to the knockout stages, which is somewhere that they absolutely have to be year in, year out.
But all this has really done is kept Mourinho in the job for a bit longer. There is a large chunk of the United fanbase that won’t really have celebrated Fellaini’s goal because of everything that went on in the match before it, not to mention those who had already piled out of Old Trafford.
Too many times this season, this has been the only way for Mourinho’s side to get a result and that in itself is definitely embarrassing for a club like Manchester United.
Key stat: United had gone 275 minutes without a goal at Old Trafford in the Champions League before Fellaini’s goal, a club record.
The post DEBATE: Jose Mourinho’s use of Marouane Fellaini – embarrassing or justified? appeared first on Squawka News.
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