The former Manchester United manager has doubts over Paul Pogba but not another midfielder that he splashed out £27.5m for.
David Moyes is unsure whether Paul Pogba will develop into a “special player” that consistently makes a difference for Manchester United. As for Marouane Fellaini, though, the former United boss is doubling down on one of his most infamous claims.
In an interview with ESPN, Moyes doubted if the French midfielder will have the same amount of influence and impact at Old Trafford than the likes of Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs had.
“I think he’s a top player, I don’t know if he’s a player who completely makes a difference for Manchester United. I think that over the years Manchester United have had players like Cantona, even Ryan Giggs, people who are special players. I don’t know if Pogba’s that,” he said.
During the same interview, Moyes spoke candidly about Marouane Fellaini. During his ill-fated spell as United manager, Moyes signed the Belgian from Everton for £27.5m but Fellaini still hasn’t won over a large section of United fans. This being said, Mourinho remains a fan.
Moyes insists he brought in Fellaini to ‘play in different games’. He added:
“Marouane was never someone who was going to play in all the games at United. He was someone that was there, his size is a problem to the opposition, it’s also something which helps you, Manchester United you’ve seen many times now have used him a more advanced role.
“I used to get criticism at Everton because we played him there, he’s got brilliant chest control, taking it down with his chest, he’s as good as anyone in the world actually and he’s a good footballer, but he was never somebody who was going to come and play every single game.”
This is not the first time Moyes has lauded the chesting abilities of Fellaini. As early as 2009, the Scot was raving about his chest control in the same interview in which he declared the Belgian was ‘as good as any midfield player in the league’.
Moyes has dismissed the notion of Galatasaray signing the ‘very important’ Fellaini from United and pointed out how much both Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have used him since he left the club.
Having already featured in the Super Cup loss to Real Madrid, Fellaini has now featured in five seasons for United. Not many people saw that coming after his less than impressive first season at Old Trafford.
Maybe the world-class coaches are seeing something tens of thousands of disgruntled fans are not.
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