Marouane Fellaini will certainly remember his 100th appearance for Manchester United.
Not only was it at Goodison Park, his old stomping ground, he also managed to have an instant impact on the result.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the kind of impact he would’ve wanted to make.
With United leading through Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first half strike, Fellaini came on with seconds of normal time remaining. Before he’d even touched the ball, it was played in to the feet of Idrissa Gueye in the United box. Already goal side of the Everton man, Fellaini had no need to get too tight. Still, in he charged, sticking out a leg and sending his opponent crashing to the deck. A penalty all the day long.
Leighton Baines tucked it away and United had to settle for the fact they’d just let another two points slip from their grasp.
As their supporters slammed Fellaini’s late contribution, one of his former teammates delivered a damning verdict of the Belgian’s defensive qualities.
Leon Osman, in the Sky studio to on pundit duty, explained that during his Goodison Park days, Everton’s players preferred him to be at the other end of the pitch when it came to defensive duties.
“You knew when you came up against him in training he was going to stand on your toes or give you a dead leg.
“When he played for us we wanted him as far away from our box as possible.
Get him up causing havoc around the opposition’s penalty area. He was really good in that position so I find it strange that Man United play him on the edge of their own box.”
Sums it up… pic.twitter.com/WM6O50MkO3
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) December 4, 2016
Not exactly a glowing endorsement of his abilities to provide defensive cover, is it?
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