17/09/2017 09:58, Report by Adam Higgins

Jose Mourinho has pinpointed the respect he has for Marouane Fellaini as being key to the midfielder's impressive performances of late.

The Belgian was voted Man of the Match by the club's supporters after coming off the bench to score the opener and set up Marcus Rashford's goal in the Reds' 3-0 victory over FC Basel in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

He also made an impact off the bench against Leicester City last month with another goal as a substitute and is becoming an increasingly influential player for United, as one of the more experienced members of the squad.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's game against Everton, Mourinho feels the good relationship he shares with the 31-year-old has been an important factor in the ex-Toffee's excellent form in recent months.

"I always thought that he was a player with special qualities and players with special qualities are players with a place in your team or in your squad," the boss said. "I knew he was a player with a lot to give, but I think the relation between the players and the managers are very important in their performance levels, confidence levels and self-esteem levels.

"I think we managers are guilty many times of good things the players do and we are also guilty of bad things, or players not performing as well as they could do. I think that's part of our careers and I think Marouane is performing very well because he feels I respect him as a player."

After taking some time to settle once he first arrived at Old Trafford in 2013, Fellaini has emerged as an important figure under Mourinho and played his part in a successful season for the Reds last term.  

When asked if he has actively tried to bring up Fellaini's confidence levels, Mourinho said: "Yes, but in a natural way – not with a specific work or relation, just showing that respect and that confidence. I just think he lives in a good moment in the club and the relation with the manager and the relation with the team, the age of the maturity, the age of the stability – it's a very good moment."

Mourinho also feels his positive treatment of Fellaini after he conceded a penalty late on against Everton at Goodison Park last term has helped the player.

"His mistake last season [at Everton] is what I can accept in a player," the boss added. "If a goalkeeper makes a mistake for a goal, I accept [it]. I accept a player that misses a penalty kick and gives a penalty away – I accept all these kinds of individual mistakes that are part of the game and part of football players.

"What I did with Marouane was what I do normally with players. [Phil] Jones made a bad mistake for Stoke's second goal. Did I kill him? No. Is he going to be on the bench on Sunday? No. Life goes on and that's the way I do [it] and that’s the way I did [it] last season with Fellaini.

"When players make a big mistake and everyone knows they did it, players are the first ones to know they did it. They don’t need any more criticism from the manager than they get from the fans or the media. It’s just being pragmatic and common sense."