Marouane Fellaini doesn’t need to worry about Nemanja Matic’s arrival at Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho eyeing up different role for the Belgian giant
Belgian has carved out a niche for himself as the big man of the United midfield, a status which could now be under threat
MANCHESTER UNITED'S signing of Nemanja Matic for £40million meant Jose Mourinho finally landed the defensive midfielder he’s been craving all summer.
But is the towering Serbian’s arrival at Old Trafford bad news for Marouane Fellaini?
The Belgian has carved out a niche for himself as the big man of the United midfield, a status which could now be under threat.
Amid reports linking Fellaini with a move to Galatasaray, our friends at Football Whispers think the former Everton man needn’t worry about Matic’s arrival.
After all, the two midfielders will be asked to do very different jobs this season.
Since Mourinho took the reins at Old Trafford last year, six of the seven signings he has made have been comfortably over 6ft tall, with the only exception being the 5ft 10ins Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
New centre-back Victor Lindelof is 6ft 2ins as is Eric Bailly; Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku are both 6ft 3ins and Zlatan Ibrahimovic stands at 6ft 5ins, should he return.
The latest arrival, Matic, is 6ft 4ins.
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In little over a year, Mourinho has transformed United into the second-tallest team in the Premier League, with only Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion boasting a taller average height.
It’s clearly part of the manager’s plans to increase the general level of physicality within his team.
His sides of the past – whether at Porto or Real Madrid, Inter Milan or Chelsea – have always had the ability to bully the opposition when necessary.
The signing of Matic, who Mourinho worked with to great effect at Stamford Bridge, will add stability, discipline and yet more height to the United midfield.
Fellaini, often a figure of derision among the Red Devils’ fan base due to his perceived lack of technical quality, became one of Mourinho’s more trusted lieutenants last term.
The Belgian was the battering ram in the middle of the park when a more aggressive approach was needed or, as was the case in the Europa League final against Ajax, the target for high balls further forward.
Some feel that Matic coming in from Chelsea will knock Fellaini further down the pecking order and mean his services and skill set are no longer needed in quite the same way.
That’s not the case, though. Matic and Fellaini are both 29 years old and 6ft 4ins, but the similarities end there.
Matic is a specialist defensive midfielder, adept at sitting in front of the defence and breaking up play.
Fellaini has been used in a similar role at times but he has never looked comfortable there. The Belgian powerhouse is at his best a little further forward, just as he was against Ajax.
Although they are the same height, Fellaini is far more dominant in the air, winning 5.3 aerial duels per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season to Matic’s 1.3.
The 2013 signing from Everton is also a more regular goal threat, having averaged 1.4 shots be 90 to the Serbian’s 0.7.
Matic’s gifts lie elsewhere. The new man is a much more accomplished passer than Fellaini, completing 87.1 per cent of his passes last term compared to his wild-haired team-mate’s 86 per cent, and averaging 62.2 passes per 90 to 59.5.
The former Benfica star is more creative too, registering seven assists in the Premier League last season whereas Fellaini didn’t muster any.
They may fit a similar physical profile, but Matic and Fellaini have very different strengths and skills – there is room for both in the United midfield.