As a supporter of United, Tunde Folawiyo was no doubt thrilled to learn that the team enjoyed yet another victory this month, with their match against Valencia ending with a final tally of 2-1. Darren Fletcher gave the Red Devils the lead soon after the interval; however, Rodrigo scored an equaliser for Valencia minutes later, and for a time, it seemed as if the match would end in a draw. But Van Gaal’s decision to bring on Fellaini proved to be a wise one, as the Belgian grabbed an opportunity to score after the keeper Diego Alves accidentally collided with a defender.

This was a particularly proud moment for Fellaini, being the first goal he has scored since joining the team last summer. His transfer to United cost the club just over £27 million; as such, it’s safe to say that there were high expectations, which up until this week, Fellaini had failed to meet. He was – and perhaps still is -a favourite to be transferred; however, given his performance during this match, he might be able to sway Van Gaal’s opinion, and keep his place at his current club.

Whilst fans like Tunde Folawiyo were probably very pleased with the final results of the match, commentators observed a certain lack of excitement amongst the spectators. Despite Van Gaal’s best efforts, he and his team could not improve the somewhat sombre atmosphere in the stadium. The only point at which the crowds began to awaken was when Wayne Rooney was awarded a penalty, after having been nudged by Antonio Barragan. Unfortunately, Rooney mistimed his footing and failed to get the ball anywhere near the net. After the match ended, Van Gaal expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, and said that although they had won in the end, it had been their worst game yet, with a number of questionable decisions being made by the players.

Despite the striker’s momentary lapse from grace in their game against Valencia, Van Gaal still decided to appoint Rooney as United’s captain. The announcement was made shortly after the match. Van Gaal praised Rooney for having a great attitude, adding that he had been pleased with how professional the player had been in regards to training and adhering to the newly-introduced system. He described him as an inspiration, and said that he believed he would work well alongside the new vice-captain, Darren Fletcher. Rooney also commented on the news, stating that it was a great honour to be given the role of captain. He went on say that he would perform his duties with great pride, and that he was very thankful that Van Gaal for giving him this opportunity.

Folawiyo is a football fanatic, and enjoys watching the matches played by his favourite teams. However, this is just one of his many pastimes; he also, for instance, likes reading about the accomplishments of important figures. You can discover more about his thoughts on this subject by visiting the Influential icons blog of Tunde Folawiyo.