Fellaini 'sorry' over Paul McShane tackle
Paul McShane feels the force of Marouane Fellaini’s foul challenge in Hull’s draw with Manchester United
Marouane Fellaini delayed his summer 2015 holiday to clock in at Carrington and apologise for his red card stupidity at Hull City on the final day of last season.
The moment of madness at the KC Stadium when he came on as sub and within 15 minutes had stamped on Ireland international Paul McShane with a horror tackle and saw the Belgian midfielder sent off.
Manager Louis van Gaal called the incident "stupid" and Fellaini's three match ban, beginning against Spurs on the opening day on August 8, cost him an appearance in United's first tour match in the USA against Club America in Seattle.
Van Gaal explained that he needed to play players who'd be available against Tottenham.
With an £80m investment in midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin and the pair up and running impressively in America it presents a challenge to the 26-year-old £27m buy from Everton in 2013.
But Fellaini insists he's confident he can still break back.
"The most important thing is to be fit and continue to perform well," says Marouane. "That's football (facing the test from the new players). It is good to have confidence. We are Man Utd, so you have to confidence.
"We have some great players, so I have to fight for my place, that's it. Everyone knows they are good players. Schneiderlin knows the Premier League, Bastian is a top player who has won everything in his career, so they will add a lot.
"But I am fine about that. I have trained now for two weeks and, slowly, slowly, I will get there.
"It is just important for me that I don't have any injuries and that I am fit when I start my season.
"I know what I did at Hull was stupid. When I received the card, I got to the dressing-room and knew already that I had been stupid and it was a stupid sending off.
"The manager is loyal, but when he has to say something, he will say it to your face. He is strict, everyone knows that, so you have to be disciplined. I think he is good for the team.
"He fined me for the red card but it's normal. He was angry with me, but the next day, I went to talk him and said sorry. It was my idea to say sorry for the tackle and the trouble.
"It is something he appreciated. I let him and my team-mates down and that was not good for the team."
Fellaini believes he finally won over the United fans with his goal at the Hawthorns against West Brom last October when he came on as a sub to equalise with his first goal for the club.
"When I scored the goal at West Brom from that moment, I feel confidence and feel good with the team and my team-mates," he said.