Why Manchester United must deploy Marouane Fellaini to beat Wolves
Manchester United must aim to continue their winning streak as they face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. The Red Devils have beaten the likes of Burnley, Watford and Young Boys, thus steadying their sails to a certain extent.
But facing Wolves will be anything but easy. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men enjoyed a sensational Championship campaign last season, winning the title in exemplary fashion. And suffice to say, they have continued their merry ways in the English top-flight as well.
Arguably, the biggest highlight of their season so far should be their inspiring draw against Manchester City. And with a trip to Old Trafford coming up, they must fancy their chances of beating the Red Devils as well.
Hence, Jose Mourinho and his men must be extremely cautious. Wolves have quite a strong team and Ruben Neves continues to reach new heights with his performances. But to combat the high-flying newly-promoted outfit, United must hand a start to Marouane Fellaini.
Despite signing the likes of Nemanja Matic and Fred in recent years, United do not have a midfielder who is as physically powerful as Fellaini. While the others can break up opposition play and dictate the tempo of the game, the Belgian powerhouse is adept at doing all the dirty work.
His immensely physical approach to the game could come in handy while dealing with Neves’ threat in the centre of the park. Furthermore, Matic will be suspended for this game, meaning a lot of responsibility will ride on Fellaini’s shoulders.
The curly-haired Belgian, who joined the club for a fee of £27.5m, was excellent in the games against Burnley and Watford and he played a key role in United’s successes.
To maintain their winning momentum and establish themselves as solid title contenders, it will be important for the Red Devils to beat Wolves at home.
Furthermore, Fellaini is taller than United’s other options – Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira. His height should provide an added advantage at keeping Wolves’ attackers at bay. Also, Fellaini is a beast in set-piece situations.
More often than not, Premier League games are won and lost in the midfield. And considering Neves’ skills and power, he is single-handedly capable of wreaking havoc upon United. Hence, Mourinho must do the wise thing and deploy Fellaini alongside Paul Pogba and Fred.