Rio Ferdinand: 29-year-old Man United star is aggressive and effective
Rio Ferdinand discusses Marouane Fellaini's role in Jose Mourinho's Manchester United team
Rio Ferdinand has praised Marouane Fellaini for his impressive performances for Manchester United in recent weeks.
The Belgium international grabbed the headlines on Saturday when he scored twice in Manchester United’s impressive 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
Fellaini has split opinion amongst football fans over the years but he seems to have earned a reputation as one of Jose Mourinho’s favourite players at Old Trafford.
And former Manchester United defender Ferdinand believes that Fellaini deserves plenty of praise for his direct style of play and how he has fitted into the team at Old Trafford.
Speaking on BT Sport on Saturday, Ferdinand said: “With all due respect to Marouane Fellaini, in terms of the way he plays, he’s not got that free-flowing style you’d associate with a lot of Man United’s attacking players in years gone by. People probably compare him to that.
“But what he is, is effective. He’s aggressive and he puts the ball in the back of the net.
“He does all the nasty things very well and he’s someone who his team-mates appreciate sometimes more than football fans.”
Fellaini will be hoping to feature for Manchester United again when the Red Devils return to Premier League action after the international break with a crunch clash against Liverpool at Anfield.
The Red Devils find themselves second in the Premier League table and level on points with leaders Manchester City after a flying start to the campaign in which they have only dropped two points so far.
Manchester United finished fifth and won the Europa League and League Cup under Mourinho last season as they impressed in his first campaign in charge at Old Trafford.
