Man Utd midfielder Marouane Fellaini felt like a scapegoat

Marouane Fellaini has scored one goal in 27 appearances for Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini thinks he was a made a scapegoat for the club's struggles under David Moyes.

Fellaini, 26, was Moyes's only signing of the 2013 summer transfer window for £27.5m from Everton.

Moyes, appointed in May 2013, was sacked after less than a year in charge at Old Trafford, with United seventh in the Premier League table.

Asked if felt he was a made scapegoat, Fellaini said: "Yes, a little bit."

Fellaini finished his debut season at United, which was hampered by a series of injuries, with 21 appearances.

Some United fans turned on the Belgium international after it was announced, one month after his arrival at Old Trafford, that he faced seven weeks on the sidelines with a wrist problem

In addition, former United striker Michael Owen claimed Moyes would have been better served signing Everton's Ross Barkley rather than Fellaini.

United finished last season in seventh spot, 22 points behind champions Manchester City.

In addition to failing to qualify for European competition for the first time in 25 years, they were knocked out of the FA Cup at the third round stage by Swansea and lost to Sunderland in the semi-final of the League Cup.

But despite a difficult start to his Untied career, Fellaini insists he never lost confidence.

The Belgian, who has regained a place under new manager Louis van Gaal, added: "I didn't lose faith in myself. You have to be strong in the head. The mentality is important. My family helped me through it.

"I was also in the national team for Belgium at the World Cup and I played well and the team also played well. For my confidence, that was important. I came back after the summer confident.

"I am fit now and that is why I am better. When I am super fit, I will be better, I am sure."