Marouane Fellaini has admitted that he felt like a scapegoat for Manchester United's woes under manager David Moyes last season.
The Scot signed the Belgian for £27.5m last September, but the duo struggled to replicate their Everton successes as the Red Devils finished seventh and Fellaini failed to score a goal.
The 26-year-old has seen his career at Old Trafford reinvigorated by the arrival of the Moyes's successor Louis van Gaal, under whom he scored his first United goal last month.
Asked if he felt like he was being scapegoated last term, Fellaini told Sky Sports News: "Yes a little bit. That is a difficult question. It is difficult to answer that. Last season was a difficult season for me.
"I didn't lose faith in myself. In football you have to be strong in the head. The mentality is important and I do have this quality so I can keep going.
"[Van Gaal] said to me I would have to fight if I wanted to play. I did fight and trained hard and that was it. When I got my chance I tried to show myself and tried to do my best."
Fellaini has scored once in six Premier League outings so far this season.
Moyes, who had been out of work since being fired by United in April, has recently been appointed as Real Sociedad coach.
Shane Callaghan
