Chelsea v Everton: Marouane Fellaini cleans up his act in time for the FA Cup

23 May 2009 14:31
The problem for Maroune Fellaini was that he attracted too much attention and the early months of his career with Everton were marked by yellow cards as well as influential performances. But with guidance and self-examination the Belgium international has come to terms with the game here and on Saturday could complete his redemption with an FA Cup-winner's medal. Fellaini, who will in every sense be a big player for Everton against Chelsea in the final, was shown the error of his ways after a 10th booking and a suspension that forced him to miss crucial League and Cup matches against Liverpool. He sat down with his manager, David Moyes, referees' supremo Keith Hackett and the then deputy PFA chief executive, Mick Maguire, to review his indiscretions on video. Since then he has received only three more bookings, the last, ironically, against Manchester United in the semi-final. "I was concerned early in the season,' said Fellaini, a £15m signing from Standard Liege. 'I was picking up yellows almost every game. We sat and watched videos of the incidents. I would say five of my bookings should not have been, but the manager told me to take care, watch out. ''Now it is better. I began to learn that when teams counter-attack and you commit a foul to stop them that's a booking.'' Moyes believes the meeting at the club's training ground served also to give referees an appreciation of the lanky midfield player's difficulty in adapting to the Premier League. ''I think Keith Hackett went away saying he'd got sympathy with him. We're not saying he's been badly done by, but a lot has to do with his being a big, gangling boy who tripped over his or other people's legs. I do think things are looking better and maybe referees are trying to understand him a bit more.' Fellaini made an impression in the Belgian game as a young boy. Born in Brussels to Moroccan parents, he lived the dream of his father, Abdellatif, who was a goalkeeper with Raja Casablanca and Hassania Agadir. Fellaini Snr was refused release to play professionally in Belgium but stayed in the country and became a bus and tram driver. His son's progress was brought to the attention of Moyes three years ago and he effectively sold himself to Everton with authoritative performances against Liverpool in last season's Champions League. Fellaini's dismissal while playing for the Belgian Olympic team against Brazil last summer might have forewarned Moyes of anxieties to come, but the 21-year-old has established himself at Goodison Park and earned cult status with the supporters. ''It's nice when the fans wear wigs like my hair and show they are behind me,'' Fellaini said. ''Everyone has their own style. This is mine. I just laugh at the other players when they joke about it. I do get recognised a lot in Liverpool. That's why I go out more in Manchester. I find it quieter and calmer there.'' The other players have dubbed Fellaini 'Screech', after the character in the American sitcom, Saved by the Bell. What Chelsea call him after the final may reflect their ability to contain him in the final. ''He's so difficult to play against because of his size,'' Moyes said. ''His best position will be as an attacking midfield player, coming from deep as Tim Cahill does for us. He's not a centre-forward, but he and Tim had a great partnership up front earlier in the season.'' In the absence of the ineligible Jo, who returns to Manchester City after Sunday's final League match at Fulham, Moyes may again entrust the midfield pair with attacking responsibilities. His option is to bring in recognised striker Louis Saha, who scored twice against West Ham last week. ''I think I know what I'm going to do but it could depend on injuries,'' Moyes said. ''I want to have the option of being able to change things if I need to.'' Fellaini, who speaks little English and appears modest to the point of shyness, is content to take whatever role is thrust upon him. ''I prefer to play in midfield, whether that is attacking midfield or defensive midfield,'' he said. ''But that will be for the manager to decide. ''The important thing is that we all show what we can do. Chelsea are the favourites but we have mental strength, organisation and quality. If you win games it's proof that you have got quality.'' Fellaini admits a particular admiration of Didier Drogba among Chelsea's players. He describes him as a 'warrior' and sympathises with the striker's sense of injustice after his team's Champions League elimination at the hands of Barcelona. Not that Fellaini would wish to ape all of Drogba's characteristics. As Moyes said: 'The one thing you won't have to worry about Marouane is diving, that's for sure.'' Win tickets to the FA Cup final Telegraph Sport has teamed up with E.ON to offer you the chance to win tickets to Saturday's Cup final. We have a pair of tickets in each end. Just answer this question: Which famous father and son are E.ON's Family Football ambassadors? You can find the answer in the new Cup Final Zone at www.familyfootball.co.uk. To enter call 0844 848 9351 and leave your name, address and whether you are an Everton or Chelsea fan. Lines close at midnight On Sunday. Calls cost 5p from local BT landlines and calls from other networks and mobiles may vary. Travel is not included. The tickets are valid on Saturday May 30, 2009 only. Terms and conditions. 1.Entrants must be aged 18 years and over. 2. One entry per person. Incomplete entries will not be accepted. 3. The prize is subject to availability. The prize does not include personal expenditure. 4. The Telegraph is responsible for the publication and adjudication of this prize draw. 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Source: Telegraph