Manchester United clinched their first home derby win in four seasons by beating their archrivals Manchester City 4-2 on Sunday. Marouane Fellaini epitomised the strength and tenacity when the Red Devils went on to thump four goals.
Fellow Manchester United players heaved praises on Fellaini as he was instrumental in this all-important victory. His positioning was terrific and using his height he kept on claiming the long balls from the United defenders and David De Gea.
The first 10 minutes of the game saw Manchester City going all out in attack and they did put one in when David Silva found Sergio Aguero for a tap-in. Their celebrations did not last long as De Gea found Fellaini with a long ball and he crafted the ball through City's defense along with Ander Herrera and found Ashley Young.
Fellaini then scored a goal from a header of Young's cross as City's defense left him unmarked. United went into halftime 2-1 up, and the lead was bulged when Mata kept his calm and delivered a superb finish through the legs of Joe Hart.
Chris Smalling made it 4-1 with another header, before Aguero grabbed a late consolation.
Fellaini was recruited by David Moyes last season, but the manager could not use him in a way he should have been used. Louis Van Gaal seems to have found a way to get the best out of his midfield by using Carrick, Fellaini, Mata and Herrera to their full potential.
Young, who also grabbed two assists apart from the equalising goal, praised Fellaini for his performance. "When Felli is in the box and you can find him, you've definitely got a chance of scoring. I saw him at the back post and hoped he'd get on the end of it and score and, thankfully, he managed to do that," said Young in an interview to MUTV.
"On his day, he's unplayable. I don't think Yaya Toure wanted to be tracking back, he wanted to be at the other end of the pitch but he had that job to do on Felli."
Fellaini was adjudged the man of the match in a post match viewer's poll and Van Gaal was all praise for the midfielder as well.
"The fans see that he is very important for the team," said the Dutchman. "He scores goals and lifts the pressure when we need it. He always plays the ball to a red shirt -- that is also very important.
"I am very happy for him because when you see how the fans are responding to the substitutions of Mata, Fellaini and Phil Jones, the standing ovations are fantastic for the players."
