Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 6y

Marouane Fellaini confident Manchester United are Premier League contenders

BURNLEY, England -- Marouane Fellaini believes Manchester United are capable of defying 40-1 odds and winning the Premier League title this season.

The Belgium international played a key role as Jose Mourinho's team ended a run of two-straight defeats with a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday.

United are as long as 40-1 for the title behind Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham, but Fellaini says they have not given up, especially since the season is only four games old.

"We have the quality, that's for sure," said the midfielder. "The season is long. It's the beginning of the season. The last two years we started very well. This season, a bit less, but the season is long so let's keep going.

"The next game is more important than this one so let's go with the national teams and come back very strong. In the Premier League everything is possible so let's see. Like I said, the next game is more important than this one."

United will have to wait two weeks before their next game against Watford, who have started the season with four wins from four, including an impressive 2-1 win over Tottenham at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Fellaini, a surprise selection against Burnley, is in line to keep his place against Javi Garcia's side after a stand-out display at Turf Moor on just his first start of the season.

"The manager knows my qualities so he knows how I can help the team," added the 30-year-old. "I do it with pleasure. Everybody has to help the team and give everything.

"I know what I have to do. I have certain experience, 10 years in the Premier League. When the manager gives me a chance I try to give everything. The whole team played well [against Burnley] and that's the most important thing."

Starting the season with two defeats in their first three games for the first time since 1992 raised questions about Mourinho's position and the atmosphere in the dressing room, but Fellaini believes the players answered any lingering questions at Burnley ahead of six games in 18 days after the international break.

"The spirit was great," he said. "Everybody wanted to win. The challenges, the 50-50 balls, everyone wanted to win them, the second balls, too. The spirit is there.

"We know that to come here [to Burnley] is always difficult because they play direct, always in the box. You have to defend well and we did it.

"The most important thing is the three points. All this week we were focusing this game because we wanted to win and get three points."

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