MX23RW : Friday, December 13 06:55:00| >> :120:22252:22252:
[monks data]
Everton logo
Premier League
Apr 20, 2014 at 4.10pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

2-0

Baines (28' pen.), Mirallas (43')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Roberto Martinez: 'Fellaini would not fit in current Everton team'

Everton manager Roberto Martinez claims that Marouane Fellaini, who left the club to sign for Manchester United last summer, would not fit in the current Toffees team.

Roberto Martinez has backed Marouane Fellaini to be a success at Manchester United, but thinks that Everton have moved on since selling him last summer.

The Belgian ended his five-year spell with the Toffees to move to Old Trafford in a £27m deal, but has so far struggled to win over the Red Devils fans.

Ahead of Fellaini facing his former club at Goodison Park on Sunday, Martinez praised his side for reacting well to losing one of their star assets and claimed that he would not get in the current Everton XI.

Furthermore, he stressed that he did not regret letting the midfielder leave, as it allowed him to return to Wigan Athletic to sign James McCarthy, who has been a key figure for the Merseysiders this season.

"I think you take a little bit of time to adapt to a new club and it's not easy," he told reporters. "Remember that it's always a different way of playing your football in many respects. I think that Marouane has always shown that he's a winner. He's a player who will find a way to be successful. That's what you want to believe with him.

"Football is not that straight forward that you bring a player from one environment to another and it works straight away. I think good players always find a way to be successful and sometimes it's a matter of time.

"But you look at McCarthy, Gareth Barry, Leon Osman - where would Fellaini have fit? In football you move on so quickly. I'm just happy with the squad that we have. And James McCarthy would never have happened if Marouane didn't go. I've just been proud of the squad. I have been proud of how we reacted in that moment. It could have been very difficult."

Everton could move back into the top four, and 13 points above United, by completing a Premier League double over David Moyes on his first return to Goodison Park since leaving the club in June 2013.

ID:150891: cacheID:150891:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2951:
Written by
Joe Fish
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Man United manager David Moyes on the touchline during his team's Premier League match against Fulham on February 9, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Everton vs. Man United
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!