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April 14, 2015

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United warns Chelsea about Fellaini

CHELSEA will have to be wary of the danger posed by the in-form Marouane Fellaini when Manchester United visits Stamford Bridge on Saturday, according to his teammates Ashley Young and Chris Smalling.

Fellaini has played a key role in United’s run of six straight league wins and the tall Belgium midfielder received a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd when he was substituted near the end of Sunday’s 4-2 win over Manchester City.

“Felli has been brilliant,” Young told the club’s in-house TV channel. “Everyone will say the same.”

Young opened United’s account against City with a close-range finish before supplying a great cross for Fellaini to head the second goal.

Smalling, who completed the scoring on Sunday after Juan Mata had slid home the third goal, also heaped praise on former Everton player Fellaini who is back to his best after an awful first season at United last term. “Felli’s been a handful for every team and there hasn’t really been an answer to him,” said England defender Smalling.

Fellaini has had his share of United doubters since his 27-million pound (US$39.45 million) move but manager Louis van Gaal said Sunday’s ovation showed he had won them over.

Third-placed United’s stunning sequence of results has given it an outside chance of lifting the title but it will need to inflict Chelsea’s first home league defeat of the season to cut the deficit on the leader to five points.

Van Gaal’s side has six matches left while Chelsea has a game in hand on United and second-placed Arsenal which is seven points off the pace.


 

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