Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has played down talk of him being taken out of the starting XI. The striker has been in poor form this season, and offered only glimpses of brilliance for the last 3 or so years. Many fans and pundits have called for Mourinho to drop the forward, but Rooney says a lot of the criticism of him is “rubbish” and vows to give his best wherever Jose Mourinho plays him for Manchester United.
United suffered three defeats in their last four games, with Rooney taking part in three of those games. However, the 30-year-old offered very little to the team – even against League One’s Northampton.
Rooney is unquestionably a United legend, and sits just three goals short of equalling Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time United goal scoring record of 249. But he has been far off the pace for a while now, and doesn’t have the touch or pace that he used to have. Many have therefore suggested that he should be dropped by Mourinho, and pave the way for the brilliant Marcus Rashford to start.
However, the 30-year-old has insisted he is used to being under such scrutiny and will not let negative talk surrounding him affect his performances.
“I think I’ve had that my whole career – a little bit more of late, I think, but that’s football,” Rooney told MUTV.
“I listen to my coaches and my team-mates, the people around me, and I don’t really listen to what a lot of people out there are saying because a lot of it is rubbish.”
“I have to focus, work hard, of course, and I’ve done that throughout my career. I’ve worked hard and tried to do my best for the team.”
Rooney has been played all over the front of the pitch in recent years, and he insists he still has a part to play wherever he is asked.
“I’ve done that [played in different positions] throughout my career,” he said. “I feel I can play in all positions but I think the manager has made it clear either I’ll play up front or in the number 10 [role] and that’s where he sees me playing.”
Should Rooney still be a starter with United? There are plenty of very talented players missing out because of his inclusion.
[Quotes sourced via Sky Sports]