Marouane Fellaini believes he was made a scapegoat for Manchester United’s struggles last season but insists he never doubted himself.
The midfielder says the support of his family plus his determination and success with Belgium helped him maintain his mental strength even when things were going badly for him and the club.
Fellaini was ex-United boss David Moyes’ only signing of the summer window for £27.5million (Dh160m) from Everton.
The 26-year-old however failed to score in his first season at the club and rarely performed to the levels he had shown under Moyes at Goodison Park, but has found his feet under Louis van Gaal with some impressive displays.
Asked if felt he was made a scapegoat last season, Fellaini said: “Yes a little bit. That is a difficult question. It is difficult to answer that.”
Speaking at an event organised by Manchester United’s global partner Nissin, he added: “I didn’t lose faith in myself. In football you have to be strong in the head. The mentality is important and I do have this quality so I can keep going.
“My family helped me through it. I was also in the national team for Belgium at the World Cup and I played well and the team also played well. For my confidence that was important. I came back after the summer confident. The manager said to me I would have to fight if I wanted to play. I did fight and trained hard and that was it. When I got my chance I tried to show myself and tried to do my best. Last season was a difficult season for me.
“The World Cup helped me a lot. The manager of the national team and the players helped me and it was a great experience.”
Fellaini said his current form is partly the result of recovering his fitness after an ankle injury – but that there is more to come.
He said: “When you are playing you are always happy. So I am happy at the moment. I have worked hard and will work hard to play every game. I am fit now and that is why I am better. When I am super fit I will be better I am sure. I was injured earlier this season, they said I had to have surgery but I didn’t.
“It was a bad injury but now I am better and I can look forward. At the moment the manager is using me as a box-to-box player and I am trying to score a goal.”
Fellaini said Van Gaal has brought in a different approach to Moyes.
He added: “I agree last season was tough. There was a new manager and it was difficult but we have another new manager, a new philosophy and we have to work hard.
“It is about organisation and keeping the ball better. You have to close down when you lose the ball. It is a new philosophy.
“When you bring in a new manager you have to wait because it is not easy but we are working hard in training. The manager has a lot of meetings to help us improve.”
