Manchester United 's Midfielder Fellaini was criticised after conceding a late penalty at Everton and was even booed by United fans at Old Trafford. But within the space of a few weeks, Fellaini has got the supporters back to his side after proving himself an invaluable part of the Jose Mourinho ’s squad.
Now, the Belgian has revealed his connection with Mourinho was first formed when the Special One called him immediately after taking charge last summer.
Fellaini said: “I’ve always had good relationships with managers. But with Jose I have a great relationship. I respect him, he gives me confidence.
"He called me and texted me on my holiday to give me confidence and say he trusts me. When a manager calls you and says you are part of his plans and that he trusts you, then you will give everything for him.”
It is that sort of belief that helped Fellaini earlier in the season, and he is honest enough to hold up his hands to his mistake for bringing down Everton’s Idrissa Gueye as United dropped two points.
Mourinho made a point of bringing Fellaini on in their next Premier League game against Tottenham to show his support while the fans jeered.
The manager promised he “would always have his protection.”
“That’s football. Ok, I made a mistake,” said Fellaini. “I’m the first to know that I did. It was a mistake. That’s it, done, next game.
“There was a problem with the fans booing me after the Everton game, but after that it was done.
When I make a mistake I know it, when I do well I know it, when I do bad I know it.
“I am honest and I don’t need people to tell me. I had a lot of things in my life and my career, so I don’t need to keep thinking about a mistake. It’s part of football.
“When the manager asks me to do things on the pitch, I will try to do it and try to do it well. If the manager tells me something there is a reason so I do it. I am a team player. I know I am not a player who will dribble past five players and score, but I know my quality.
“I do my job, if the manager is happy that is the most important thing and then my team-mates.
There is always someone talking because Manchester United is a big club.
“I am used to it, so I don’t listen any more. I do my job and when the manager gives me a chance to play, I give everything.”
And on Manchester United's decent run lately, Fellaini said: “Yeah, we are on a great run. We haven’t lost for three months in the league. We lost (the EFL Cup semi-final's second leg) against Hull, but we are in the final so it’s good – we have to keep going.
“When a new manager comes in he has to find his balance, now he has it so we have to keep going, keep fighting and work hard. Everyone wants to show himself. We have a lot of confidence and everyone wants to play, so it’s good for the team.
“If you want to win things all the staff have to be together, as a family. We try to do that and and now we’ve had time it is more intense. It’s shown that we are strong.
“A club like Manchester United, they have to play Champions League so the minimum is to be top four. At the beginning of the season we wanted to be Champions. That’s normal at this club.
“But we lost points, we drew a lot. Games like Stoke and Hull and Burnley at home, we should win but we didn’t. Six points is a lot to drop in the Premier League.
"We have to win some games now and keep going to the end of the season".
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