Marouane Fellaini was only on the pitch for 10 minutes on Sunday afternoon.
But that was enough time to give away a penalty, cost Manchester United a win and anger every single one of the club’s millions of fans.
Jose Mourinho’s side were leading Everton 1-0, thanks to a first-half goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, when Fellaini entered the game with five minutes remaining.
Three-minutes later, the clumsy Belgian midfielder made a needless, mistimed challenge on midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, giving away a clear penalty. Leighton Baines scored from the spot and Everton earned a point from the game.
Mourinho came in for criticism for his decision to bring Fellaini on. The Belgian is tall, works hard and is capable of heading the ball away. However, he’s not a man you want around when your team needs to retain the ball.
Leon Osman, his former Everton teammate, said as much on Sky Sports following the game.
“You knew when you came up against him in training he was going to stand on your toes or give you a dead leg. When he played for us we wanted him as far away from our box as possible.”
In other words, Fellaini is a potential liability in situations where teams are required to keep their cool and see the game out.
Mourinho was inevitably asked about his decision to take Henrikh Mkhitaryan off for Fellaini, and didn’t sound too pleased with a Manchester Evening News journalist, reportedly saying: “I thought you knew more about football.”
Asked Mourinho why he brought on Fellaini. Starts reply with: 'I thought you knew more about football.' #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 4, 2016
The United manager then elaborated on his decision, explaining that because of Everton’s “direct” tactics he wanted a tall player to help out his defence.
United had Daley Blind and Juan Mata, two players comfortable in possession, and Eric Bailly, a central defender, on the bench, but the manager opted for the physical presence of Fellaini.
“Everton is not the passing team anymore, like they were, Everton is a team that plays direct, everything is direct,” Mourinho said.
“Goalkeeper – direct, Ashley Williams – direct, Funes Mori – direct. Everything is direct.”
“And when a team is losing and plays direct, intensifies the direct football, and when you have a player on the bench with two metres you play the player in front of the defensive line to help the team to the match.”
The United manager then hit out at supposed double standards used against him by the media.
Mourinho elaborates on the double standards deployed to criticise his teams. #MUFC#CFC#RMCF#INTER#FCP#PORpic.twitter.com/XNuPzv7xyP
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) December 4, 2016
