Jose Mourinho: I always trusted Marouane Fellaini since day one

Fellaini celebrates one of his two goals against Crystal Palace

Man Utd via Getty Images

Tom Doyle30 September 2017

Jose Mourinho praised Marouane Fellaini for rising to the challenge of making himself a Manchester United regular following a match-winning brace against Crystal Palace.

Fellaini's double on Saturday was sandwiched between Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku goals in a comprehensive 4-0 win that saw United equal their record tally of 19 points after seven Premier League matches as embattled Palace fell to another loss.

Few expected Mourinho to keep Fellaini after arriving as United manager back in the summer of 2016, with the Belgian's awkward style not sitting well with fans who had been treated to years of flowing football under Sir Alex Ferguson.

While Fellaini arrived at United during David Moyes' ill-fated reign in 2014, the 29-year-old won admirers in Moyes' successors Louis van Gaal and then Mourinho - especially given the Portuguese coach is without Paul Pogba, who is out with a "long-term" hamstring injury.

In Pictures | Manchester United vs Crystal Palace | 30/09/2017

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Mourinho told BBC Sport: "I always trusted Marouane since day one and try to give him confidence and show him how useful he is for the team."

The manager was pleased with picking up another dominant win despite making fiver changes to his starting line-up, saying: "Three points and a good performance.

"We started strong and we finished strong. We rotated. We won and that's the most important thing."

Mourinho had to change up his team after a draining Champions League trip to Russia in midweek, where United beat CSKA Moscow 4-1.

On the the quick turnaround from a Wednesday night match in Russia to a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, Mourinho added: "I had concerns. Palace had one week to prepare.

"They lost players during the week. We had to play In Russia. I had to make changes. The mentality allowed me to do that. Everybody wants to play.