Marouane Fellaini has admitted to feeling “a little bit” of a scapegoat for David Moyes’s failed tenure as Manchester United manager, with the midfielder stating his improved form under Louis van Gaal is due to a strong mentality.

Last season United finished seventh as Moyes was sacked in April, four matches from the end of the campaign. Fellaini had been signed by the Scot from his last club, Everton, the previous summer for £27.5m but endured a torrid season as he suffered from poor form and six separate injuries.

Asked if Fellaini had been made a scapegoat for United’s disappointing campaign under Moyes, he said: “Yes a little bit. That is a difficult question. It is difficult to answer that.” He said that he was determined to show his true worth. “That is why David Moyes bought me. He knew my qualities. He knew what I can do and that is why I am here.

“I agree last season was tough. There was a new manager and it was difficult for all the players but we have another new manager now with a new philosophy and we have to work hard.”

While he is now happy, Fellaini denied ever considering leaving the club. “No. It was all speculation. In football it is like this. That’s what happens there is always speculation. But I signed for Manchester United for four years and the manager never said to me that I had to go so I worked for my place and that was it,” he said. “When you are playing you are always happy. So I am happy at the moment.”

The Belgian, who has started the past three matches, is clear he never lost self-confidence . “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,” he said.

“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. I came back after the summer confident. The manager said to me I would have to fight if I wanted to play. I did fight and trained hard and that was it.

“Last season was a difficult season for me. I am fit now and that is why I am better. When I am super fit I will be better I am sure. I was injured earlier this season [an ankle]. It was a bad injury but now I am better and I can look forward.”

Fellaini is relishing Van Gaal’s deployment of him. “At the moment the manager is using me as a box-to-box player and I am trying to score a goal,” he said, though he is content to operate elsewhere as in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. “I played a little bit more up front as a No8. Then for the last 20 minutes I played at No6 alongside Daley Blind. I can play different positions.”

Marouane Fellaini was speaking at the screening of ‘HUNGRY TO WIN’, a Japanese animation created by Nissin, Manchester United’s Official Global Noodle Partner.