Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said that the fans have to "love" Marouane Fellaini now because of the contribution that he is making.
Fellaini, 28, revealed in April that being unpopular with the United fans has sometimes been difficult for him and that he believed that it could be down to his association with former manager David Moyes, who signed him from Everton.
"With Fellaini, I always have the feeling that he was not loved by the general red people," Mourinho told MUTV. "But, if he plays like he's playing now, they have to love him because he's being so important for us."
Fellaini made his mark in preseason, scoring in the 5-2 friendly win over Galatasaray, and has gone on to play 90 minutes for United in both the Community Shield against Leicester City then the opening Premier League game: a 3-1 win against Bournemouth.
The Belgium midfielder was also a key player in the club's FA Cup run last season, culminating in their win over Crystal Palace in May's final.