You have got to hand it to Jose Mourinho. The man is rarely predictable.
There were murmurings on Friday that people’s champion Bastian Schweinsteiger would make a rare matchday squad appearance for Manchester United and, sure enough, he is among the subs for the New Year’s Eve visit of Middlesbrough.
However it is another out-of-favour midfielder who replaces the absent Michael Carrick in the United midfield… good old Marouane Fellaini.
Yeah, the sharp-elbowed Belgian is back in the starting XI!
Considering he got booed by his own fans while warming up at Old Trafford earlier this month and has been linked with a move away to somewhere, anywhere, the reaction to his return to the side has not been entirely kind.
Here's today's #MUFC team to face Middlesbrough… #MUNMID pic.twitter.com/1ump6Cs3NN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 31, 2016
Most wanted Schweini in there ahead of Fellaini.
https://twitter.com/mElflEg/status/815200084350685184
https://twitter.com/Bakhtiyar98_/status/815200031837945856
.@ManUtd Fellaini FFS? Schweinsteiger rolled up in a carpet with a bag over his head would still be better!!! #manutd #mufc
— Anni Byniaeth 🏴 (@RedDevilDisco) December 31, 2016
Most just wanted anyone but the Belgian
Fellaini ffs
— Yun Hong™ (@YunHongOfficial) December 31, 2016
https://twitter.com/DeanMUFC13/status/815196529283788800
https://twitter.com/MUNITEDLewis/status/815197273999233024
Fellaini should be thankful for a guy like Josh.
common cut the guy some slack… Jeez he isn't utterly terrible & we have a game next 2mao so he should play!
— JOSIAH . (@Joshariez) December 31, 2016