Not too many pre-match observers would have expected Jose Mourinho to start Marouane Fellaini for Manchester United’s must-win Champions League last 16 second leg with Sevilla but that’s exactly what he did.
It made the United’s midfield stodgy, slow and predictable as the Red Devils laboured. Fellaini was withdrawn on the hour mark but it was only when his side went 2-0 down – thanks to a duo of strikes form Wissam Ben Yedder – that they sparked into life.
In a game that United had to grab by the scruff of the neck and dominate, they were incredibly passive out of possession and unable to spring forward in attack when they got the ball back.
The numbers spell out just how Fellaini’s struggles were emblematic of United’s overall problems. He was unable to affect the play at either end of the pitch.
Just one tackle and no interceptions highlight how powerless the 80-cap Belgian international was unable to get near the visiting midfield, orchestrated by Ever Banega. He was also dispossessed twice.
Fellaini was preferred to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, both of whom are better ball-players. The numbers show that it simply didn’t pay off as he failed to make a key pass and only made 29 passes in the whole game; Europe’s elite midfielders simply influence matches much, much more than that.
Fellaini isn’t fully fit but this display was the latest in a long line that mean many United fans are hoping that he does not renew his contract at Old Trafford beyond the end of the current system.
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