2023-11-06 19:00:00
Marouane, are we really talking to a future retiree?
”No not at all, it’s a misunderstanding, I haven’t made that decision yet. I plan to finish the season first, then I will go on vacation and take the time to analyze what is available to me.”
Exactly, what is available to you?
”I have several offers, including one from Europe to continue my career. I’m not closing any doors but I don’t want to think regarding it right now.”
Your coach also said that you need two days to recover following a match. A way to discourage other Chinese clubs from signing you?
”Well, it doesn’t matter, you have to respect the coach’s opinion. He can say what he thinks regarding me, I know I feel very good. You can look at my stats, I play my matches and I never ask to go out because I’m tired. Whether I recover for one or two days, as long as I perform at a good level, does it really matter?”
Last Saturday, you were honored by your club for the last home championship match. In the stands, we might see fans mourning your departure.
”It’s nice, it’s beautiful to see. This means that I did my job here as I did everywhere I went. People can say whatever they want regarding me, in the end, I have always made my mark in all the clubs I have played for and I have always earned the respect of all my coaches. This is my greatest pride in my career. As for Shandong, I spent very good years there, we won titles including the championship, three cups and we still have one to play soon.”
Marouane Fellaini was honored by his future former coach.
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“I’ll stop when I get tired of it, I haven’t yet.”
We understand, you’re not yet ready to stop, but where are you physically at 35 (36 on November 22)?
”The machine is aging, but it’s aging well because I take good care of myself. I adapt my training quite a bit with more recovery, gym and a little less terrain. This allows me to be fresh on the pitch (Editor’s note: and decisive with 50 goals and 12 assists since his arrival in February 2019). It’s not by doing one less training on the field that you lose your physique.”
You are in your 18th season as a pro, what is your secret to longevity?
”It’s not bad eh (laughs). Sometimes I think regarding it and tell myself that it’s a beautiful journey. As for the secret, there isn’t one, it’s the work. I never gave up and I always persevered. It happens that you have a low period but you have to know how to stay mentally strong and that is one of my strengths.”
The young Marouane Fellaini has grown up a lot since his years in Liège. ©Reporters
What has been the most complicated moment so far?
”There was the management of Covid which never stopped here, with very significant periods of isolation. In terms of the game, my first year at Manchester United was complicated, I can’t deny it, but I learned a lot and I grew from it.
Eden Hazard recently ended his career at the age of 32, stating that he had been in the business for too long already. And you, have you ever had enough of it?
”I have always loved what I do. But yes, I have had some downturns, especially during Covid. Moments when you tell yourself that you want to go home and live normally. This was the case last season, I had enough of these restrictions due to Covid, but I got over it. Coming back to Eden’s choice, I can understand it and the only thing we can do is respect it.”
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“I have two offers, one from Europe. I’m not closing any doors.”
Did you originally plan to stop at a certain age?
”No, it is the body that must speak. As long as the machine is running, there is no reason to stop. There are players who have experienced bad luck and injuries, it is not possible for everyone to play until the age of 40. Look at what my old teammate at Standard, Dante, is doing. At 40 years old, he is still playing in a top championship and at an excellent level. This inspires respect in me. As for me, when I get tired of it, I’ll stop.”
But this is not yet the case.
”I will perhaps continue for another year or two. As I said, I have several offers but I will take the time to think regarding them. I have four games left with Shandong and then I will go on vacation.”
Some players like to come full circle to where it all began for them. Is a return to Belgium possible for you?
“As I said, I’m not closing any doors, we’ll see if any offers come in but to be frank, it’s not on my mind at the moment.”
When you left for China, there was, as with Axel Witsel and Yannick Carrasco, a lot of criticism.
”We forget that I joined China at 31 years old. It was the right time, following great years in the Premier League. Afterwards, I didn’t pay attention to the criticism. As for the rest of my career, it will be guided by pleasure. What I can assure you is that I have no regrets regarding my career choices.”
At club level, you have 578 matches, 118 goals, 58 assists. If we had told you that when you were starting out, would you have believed it?
”And don’t forget the national team (Editor’s note: 87 caps and 18 goals). But clearly, I would have signed with both hands (laughs). Honestly, I wouldn’t have imagined this. But it was only the work I put in that paid off. I always stayed humble and did what I had to do on the pitch. I never made waves, I didn’t like to talk too much. Today, young people talk more and work a little less, it’s another generation that faces too many temptations.”
Marouane Fellaini scored 50 goals for his Chinese club. ©AFP or licensors
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“In China, I became more mature, calmer and patient.”
What do you remember from your years in China?
”It was a life experience. I would say that here, I have truly become a man. When you are practically alone for three years, when you are faced with repeated confinements and isolations, you have time to reflect on what you have done and to think regarding your future.
Few foreign players manage to integrate into China, wasn’t that the case for you?
“It’s not easy, especially with Covid, I learned to be calmer, more patient, to refocus on myself in the heart of a totally different culture.”
With your atypical profile, you have always made all your coaches happy.
”I am a team player above all. I never wanted to stand out. My leitmotif has always been to put myself at the service of my team, regardless of the position in which I was placed.”
One day, Louis Van Gaal tells you that you are not part of his plans.
”You know, the field doesn’t lie. People can lie, the field can’t. I remember this day. So yes, under the influence, I said to myself: ‘wait, you’ll see’. But once once more, it was my performances on the pitch that spoke and I ended up playing (Editor’s note: he played 66 matches under the management of the Dutch T1 for 11 goals and three assists).”
The former Devil was able to convince Louis Van Gaal at Manchester United. ©BELGA
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“When Van Gaal tells me that I don’t fit into his plans, I say to myself: you’ll see!”
What would you say to the young Marouane Fellaini who was preparing to experience his first start of his career in the Champions League preliminary with Standard on August 9, 2006?
“Go ahead ! Go straight ahead and never regret anything. That’s what I did. I was never afraid.”
You carried the label of an aggressive player for a long time, did that upset you?
“You can’t stop people from talking but it was easy to make me an aggressive player. We said to ourselves: Fellaini, from the height of his 92 meter height, he hits shots. But we didn’t see everyone I took. Since I was tall and strong, it was only logical that someone bumped into me. So yes, I made some dirty mistakes sometimes, but that side of my game was always exaggerated.”
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“It was kind of easy to make me a mean player.”
Let’s come to the Devils, have you ever regretted not having agreed to come back as Roberto Martinez asked you before the Euro?
”It was time for me to stop. From the moment I left for China, it was over for me. They understood and respected my choice.”
You left, Eden and Axel recently imitated you, making way for a new generation. How do you see it?
”It’s true that a lot of players left, but we weren’t all going to play until we were 50 (laughs). But the current team is still very good and we will always have good talent in Belgium. What they need is to grow together in big tournaments, like us back then.”
A little over two years ago, you told us that you were impressed by Jérémy Doku.
“It’s always like that. What he is achieving at City is incredible. He can count on a great coach who will help him progress further. But let’s not start saying that he will become the new Hazard. Already, these are two different profiles. We also made comparison links between Onana and me. We tend to want to compare players too much. We’re all different.”
Eden Hazard tried to bring Marouane Fellaini back to the Devils in 2021. ©Photo News
Do you think Axel Witsel might have been useful in central defense?
”The coach had his tactical reasons not to select him and Axel made his decision to withdraw from the national team. These are two choices that must be respected and not commented on.”
What is your view on the Thibaut Courtois affair?
“It’s a shame. I don’t know all the ins and outs, but it is clear that it would be more advantageous for the country if things calm down with Thibaut. I hope it can work out.”
Do you see Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku continuing for a long time with the Devils?
”They still have three or four years ahead of them. I wish them the best and above all good luck. Taking the year too long? It’s up to them (laughs).”
Finally, will Marouane Fellaini stay in football following his career?
”We are not going to discuss it now because it is not current. We will do another interview when I have decided to end my career (Editor’s note: the appointment has been made). Coach ? No, it’s not my priority. Be present in the organization chart of a club? It’s not impossible.”
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