Van Gaal: Fellain's form ensures his selection

(Manchester United News)

Van Gaal: Fellain's form ensures his selection

Louis van Gaal says Marouane Fellaini deserves all the credit for his excellent performances of late, with the Manchester United manager insisting the Belgian has to start each match on current form.

After a difficult first campaign with the Reds, Fellaini has played an integral part in United's resurgence during his second season.

The no.31 narrowly missed out to Juan Mata in United's Player of the Month poll and has since added to his impressive club exploits by scoring three goals in two games for his country. Van Gaal is delighted to see the way Fellaini has performed and was quick to praise the attacking midfielder for the way he has turned his fortunes around.

"It is only the player [who has made this happen]," the boss told MUTV. "The manager, staff and the players are helping him, but he is the main reason, by himself."

When asked about Fellaini's form by reporters at his press conference on Friday, van Gaal added: "Another thing I've said many times is that he was late back when I first saw him [because of the World Cup]. I'd heard a lot about him and from the first training session, he did what I asked of him. I said 'you have to do this' and he was open and wanted to perform that, I'm not surprised [by his form].

"He had an unlucky season [last season] because he was injured and ill a lot of times, but when he's been fit he's always played for me, more or less. I was looking for balance in the team, and he can bring that. Of course, I can change things depending on our opponent, but at the minute I can't change him when he's playing like this."