Wayne Rooney: We knew Marouane Fellaini was quality

Wayne Rooney never doubted Marouane Fellaini would become a world-beater at Manchester United. 

Fellaini put on the latest in a long line of impressive performances on Sunday when he starred in United’s 4-2 derby win over Man City at Old Trafford.

Fellaini did not start a game for United until the end of October, but his form has become so good those who work with him have been falling over themselves to praise him.

Manager Louis van Gaal said the midfielder was undroppable on current form, Ashley Young believes Fellaini is “unplayable” when at the peak of his powers, and Rooney thinks the Belgian is the best on the planet when it comes to relieving pressure and turning defence into attack.

The United captain said: “We like to play out from the back and if teams are pressing us then we have him as an option. He is probably the best in world football at bringing the ball down and getting us out of that pressure and further up the pitch.”

That Fellaini would receive such praise off anyone would have seemed laughable last summer. The 27-year-old was made to shoulder much of the blame for the disastrous reign of David Moyes, who signed the midfielder for £27.5m. The United fans who were excited at the prospect of watching the Belgian play quickly threw away the Afro wigs they had bought to mark his arrival when his form went downhill.

Such was the apathy towards Fellaini his introduction off the bench for United’s final pre-season friendly against Valencia last August was greeted with sarcastic cheers from the home fans. Rooney thinks Fellaini should take credit for the way he dealt with the negativity directed his way.

“Last year was awful for him,” Rooney said. “But, in fairness, he kept his head down worked hard and come through that tough period. It was tough for him but he had the whole team’s support. We knew he was working hard and it wasn’t just him struggling last season, a lot of us were. He was the one who took most of the blame for it. It was hard for him. Thankfully the manager has shown faith in him. He is showing now what he did at Everton and why United bought him. He is a quality player. He is a different option for us and it is starting to show on the pitch.”

In the first derby, Fellaini lacked discipline and seemed determined to get sent off, but on Sunday he put on arguably the best performance of his United career. The 6ft 4in midfielder eased the pressure on his team-mates by heading in United’s second and he won his battle with his opposite number Yaya Toure, who was made to look like a tired 40 something by the final whistle. Rooney thinks Fellaini, and the rest of the United front six, were more willing to graft for their team-mates than the opposition.

He said: “We know some City players are not the best at tracking back and defending and tracking runners and we felt we could make them pay for that and we did do. We have got players who can score goals from midfield and to be honest we felt that was going to win us the game and it was proved to be.”

Fellaini, Rooney and their team-mates will look to make it seven straight wins this Saturday when they travel to Stamford Bridge. Although mathematically United can still win the title, even if they win in London, leaders Chelsea will still be five points clear and they have a match in hand against bottom side Leicester to come. But Rooney knows United can send out another message by becoming the first team to win at Stamford Bridge in the league in more than a year.

“We are confident going to Chelsea,” the striker said. “We are in a good run of form and have beaten some good teams.”

Meanwhile Ashley Young took great delight in shutting up Manchester United’s “noisy neighbours”.

Once Young had cancelled out Sergio Aguero’s opener, United turned on the style and claimed their sixth straight Barclays Premier League victory thanks to goals from Fellaini, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling.

“We wanted to keep our noisy neighbours quiet, and we quietened them down straight away (after their goal),” the United winger told MUTV.

“When you go 3-1 and 4-1 up, it’s then about trying to keep the ball and we did that.

“As you can imagine the atmosphere in the dressing room was electric (after the game). A win in the derby, especially in the way we did it, meant there were fantastic celebrations.”

Young is confident of closing the gap on leaders Chelsea to five points at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

“We feel we can beat anyone on our day,” he said. “Confidence has been sky high for a long time and we want to keep the momentum going now.”

In all reality, United have hit top form just a bit too late to launch a serious bid for the title. Even if the Blues lose on Saturday, they know they also have a match in hand to come against bottom side Leicester.

Still, Saturday’s encounter will be another chance for United to show they can go toe to toe with the best teams in the league and for one player in particular, it will be an emotional occasion.

Mata will be returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since he left the west London club for United just over a year ago.

“It’s going to be a very special game for me,” the Spaniard wrote on his blog.

“Going back to Stamford Bridge for the first time will bring me plenty of good memories. The day I arrived to this great club (United), I wrote: ’Gratitude is the memory of the heart’. And I keep thinking the same.

“At that time I had the chance to thank everybody who helped me in London during those two-and-a-half years, and Saturday it will be nice to meet former team-mates, fans and friends. I keep good memories of them and I wish them the best. Obviously, our intention is to get the three points.”