Marouane Fellaini wouldn't get into my team - Everton's Roberto Martinez

Posted Sunday, April 20, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

ROBERTO MARTINEZ has watched Marouane Fellaini struggle to establish himself at Manchester United – and doubts whether he’d have got into his Everton team.

Marouane Fellaini wouldn't get into my team - Everton's Roberto Martinez
HE WOULD'T GET IN MY TEAM: Marouane Fellaini wouldn't start in Roberto Martinez's Everton side

Former Goodison boss David Moyes splashed a whopping £27.5 million in taking Fellaini with him to Old Trafford eight months ago.

Eyebrows were raised in both camps. On Merseyside for cashing in on a regular first teamer as Martinez brought in James McCarthy in a deal worth £13 million.

And in Manchester for spending so much on one midfield player who hadn't been a medal winner.

Now, with United and Fellaini arriving at Goodison today, Martinez doesn't think that he would muscle into his engine room where McCarthy, Leon Osman and Gareth Barry have had outstanding seasons.

Martinez said: "I think you take a little bit of time to adapt to a new club and it's not easy. 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.

Marouane Fellaini wouldn't get into my team - Everton's Roberto Martinez
WHERE WOULD HE FIT: Martinez doesn't think Fellaini wouild fit in his side

Marouane Fellaini wouldn't get into my team - Everton's Roberto Martinez "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.

"It's an incredible situation to be in with that mixture of experience and
youth and everything. It's so natural. It looks like this side has been playing together for the last five years.

"You should never worry about losing a player because if Manchester United couldn't hold on to Cristiano Ronaldo, the rest of us have no chance."

Martinez, on the other hand, is delighted that Leighton Baines didn't quit the club and stayed to establish himself as "the best left back in the world."

He added: "Leighton is unique. He's an out and out Evertonian. For me, he's the best left back in world football and in the best moment of his career.

"In the middle of a World Cup year, he's a valuable asset for our football. With Leighton, we never got into a position where a club met his valuation.

"He's quite unique in that he showed an incredible professionalism during a difficult time.

From that point he has moved on and is a better player than he was last season.

"And I think the best is still to come.
He can play in midfield. That’s 100 per cent. I'm
not sure if he will do it next season but in the future. Definitely.

"He has got the know how. He has got the experience and the understanding. And as a football club we will benefit so much from that flexibility."