Marouane Fellaini claims that Manchester United needed a "strict" manager like Louis van Gaal after the disaster of last season.
The day after Ander Herrera claimed that Van Gaal "likes discipline and doesn't believe in egos in the squad", Fellaini has revealed that the Dutchman has instilled fear into the United squad.
Fellaini was expected to exit Old Trafford in the summer but has instead established himself as a No. 10 in a side bound for the Champions League.
"He told me 'prove yourself and we'll see'. Now they are counting on me," he said.
"There were never any real doubts. I was injured at the beginning of the season and then returned. The coach gave me confidence and I proved myself in a few matches.
"After that, I was injured and I got sick again. For three weeks I was on antibiotics. It took a while, but now I can finally enjoy.
"The coach is very strict, but that's good. We needed such a coach. Last season we had a bad season. We even missed European qualification. We needed a coach who would put some players' feet back on the ground.
"If he says something, you should do it. Otherwise you'll fly out of it. If he has to take you off the pitch when the game hasn't been going on for more than 30 minutes he'll do it. Or during half-time. Fortunately, it hasn't happened to me yet."
