Marouane Fellaini has dismissed the former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher as a “world champion of breaking legs”.

The Manchester United midfielder was responding to comments made last year in Carragher’s regular column for the Daily Mail, in which he was labelled “a menace in the worst possible sense”.

Carragher’s remarks were made in reference to an incident between Fellaini and Leicester City’s Robert Huth, in which Fellaini appeared to elbow Huth after having his hair pulled.

Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Show all 11 1 /11 Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Sergio Romero - 5 out of 10 Could have stood much taller against Aleksandr Bukharov and perhaps prevented the goal. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Chris Smalling - 4 out of 10 Almost as culpable as Jones for the goal. Some simple communication between the pair would have prevented Rostov’s goal. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Phil Jones - 4 out of 10 Cost his side when he failed to track Bukharov's run over his shoulder. Too easily beaten by the long ball out the back. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Marcos Rojo – 6 out of 10 United’s best defender, though that is not saying much. Produced an important, last-ditch tackle to deny Rostov on the break late on. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Ashley Young - 6 out of 10 Showed purpose from wing-back in the first-half but ultimately lacked a telling end-product. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Daley Blind - 5 out of 10 Left with too much responsibility as a lone man on the left flank. Struggled to offer United the width they required to penetrate. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Marouane Fellaini - 7 out of 10 One player who suited the adverse conditions underfoot and repeated balls over the top. Combined his physicality with a rare bit of technique in the build-up to Henrikh Mkhitaryan's goal. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Ander Herrera – 5 out of 10 Game for the rough tackling that defined the first half hour but offered little more. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Paul Pogba – 4 out of 10 Failed to impose himself on a game once again. Jose Mourinho is trying to play him into form but he remains some way off. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 7 out of 10 A promising return to the side, curtailed by his second-half substitution. There at the right place at the right time to put away the opener. Rostov vs Manchester United player ratings Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 6 out of 10 A sublime assist for the opener, then too quiet after it, but rarely received service in the right areas.

Both players subsequently received three-match bans following a review by the Football Association’s independent regulatory commission.

“I don't use that term [‘menace’] lightly but he is not a Manchester United player in any shape or form ... Personally I hope we don't see his elbows in England again.”



The incident in question came several weeks after Fellaini had appeared to elbow Liverpool’s Emre Can during a Europa League clash between United and Carragher’s former club.

After being reminded of Carragher’s comments in an interview with Sport/Voetbal magazine, published in his native Belgium, Fellaini said: “If I am violent and aggressive, what was Carragher?

“He is the champion of blah-blah and the world champion of breaking legs. If you type his name into YouTube, you’ll only see him tackling.”