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Martin Rickett

Marouane Fellaini: I'm not a dirty player

“I don’t want to elbow someone, I just defend myself. I am physical.”

MANCHESTER UNITED MIDFIELDER Marouane Fellaini insisted he is not a “dirty player” as he responded to criticism following two elbowing incidents against Liverpool.

Fellaini was singled out during United’s 3-1 aggregate defeat to Liverpool in the Europa League last 16, after appearing to elbow Emre Can in the first leg at Anfield.

The towering Belgium international then caught Dejan Lovren in the return leg on Thursday, leading to a yellow card and former referee Howard Webb labelling him a “thug”.

However, Fellaini said he “never wants to injure a player”. “I am not like that,” Fellaini told BBC Sport.

“If you want to win the game, you have to be aggressive.

“I don’t want to elbow someone, I just defend myself. I am physical. I like to win my challenge. That’s English football as well, but I am not a dirty player.”

Fellaini, who has been sent off twice since swapping Everton for Old Trafford in 2013, will turn his attention to Sunday’s must-win Premier League derby at Manchester City. United are sixth in the table, four points adrift of City, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot.

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    Mute Conor Cahill
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    Mar 19th 2016, 10:18 AM

    No. You’re not a dirty player Marouane. You’re just s**t.

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    Mute Fill Knickers
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    Mar 19th 2016, 10:31 AM

    Just A Donkey , With Elbows

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    Mute Stephen Kilbane
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    Mar 19th 2016, 10:22 AM

    He’s not dirty, he’s filthy and $h!te

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Mar 19th 2016, 11:06 AM

    He should have been sent off in both games. No place in the game for deliberately elbowing an opponent. He is a disgrace to the game.

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    Mute Brian Corcoran
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    Mar 19th 2016, 11:22 AM

    I love how he is helping Van Gaal turn Utd into Everton

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    Mute Alexander Chapman
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    Mar 19th 2016, 1:25 PM

    But manu have alwsys been better then liverpool

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    Mute Fill Knickers
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    Mar 19th 2016, 1:57 PM

    Not On A Thursday ….

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    Mute Ray Power
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    Mar 19th 2016, 11:12 AM

    What he should have said was that he isn’t a football player

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    Mute Paul Browne
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    Mar 19th 2016, 10:30 AM

    Yes you are! And your hair is poxy too

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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Mar 19th 2016, 11:55 AM

    Hope this liability is available for the Belgians in the summer.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Mar 19th 2016, 2:04 PM

    him and that useless k@unt of a keeper they have we might have a chance against Belgium.

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    Mute William Motley
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    Mar 19th 2016, 12:13 PM

    And I’m not pat butcher

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    Mute Fill Knickers
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    Mar 19th 2016, 12:48 PM

    WM ….
    Hate That Picture ….
    Reminds Of X-Mother In law
    Hate The Poxy Picture ….

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    Mute Mark Fitzgerald
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    Mar 19th 2016, 11:51 AM

    He can’t help it if other players are running into his elbows.

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    Mute ben symes
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    Mar 19th 2016, 10:45 AM

    He plays like a tree trunk in his prime

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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Mar 19th 2016, 11:57 AM

    “I am groot”

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    Mute Coco Beware
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    Mar 19th 2016, 12:39 PM

    No you’re not a dirty player and you also have great technical ability, get out you muppet and get a hair cut and sort your eyebrows, joke of a player

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    Mute Notthatguy
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    Mar 19th 2016, 1:05 PM

    Defend yourself from what? Peoples skull in the vicinity? Amazed that Sideshow and Costa have not broken red card records….

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    Mute Unknown
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    Mar 19th 2016, 10:24 AM

    And I’m Santa Claus

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Mar 19th 2016, 1:55 PM

    you obviously weren’t around in the 70s and 80s Alexander.

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    Mute Notthatguy
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    Mar 19th 2016, 2:07 PM

    Weren’t they relegated in 74?

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    Mute Rory Connolly
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    Mar 19th 2016, 2:10 PM

    You are an absolutely atrocious player!!

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    Mute Eamon Lynch
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    Mar 19th 2016, 10:50 AM

    I don’t think Fellaini is dirty. He isn’t a player either. He ambles around forlornly and ineffectually. I wish he would take up anything but a place in the ManU midfield.

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