As the old cliché goes, form is temporary, class is permanent. Wayne Rooney’s vital last gasp free kick against Stoke City to break Bobby Charlton’s all time goalscoring record demonstrated the Manchester United striker’s ability to deliver when it matters most and underlined his undeniable class.
At 31, a forward should not really be coming to the end of his shelf-life but with a career as long as Rooney’s, games can take their toll on a body. Since making his debut for Everton at the age of 16 in 2002, the forward has played 616 matches. It is a huge number and although it would be very harsh to say that Rooney’s legs have gone, it is clear that things have begun to slowdown a shade for the England captain.
Although he has never failed to reach double figures for goals in a season for United, his rate of return in the Premier League has seen an alarming dip in recent seasons. After scoring 17 league goals in the 2013/14 season, the next seasons saw his total drop to 12, then to 8 and to just two so far this season.
There are of course many mitigating circumstances for being less prolific in front of goal. Rooney has always been flexible in the positions he has played in the United side, but in recent seasons his move to deeper roles in central midfield has meant he has had far fewer chances to score. Also it must be noted that Jose Mourinho has used him more from the bench as the season has gone on (although 18 starts in 36 games is certainly not bad). Whether that will change in the coming months remains an open question.
It is certainly the case that Mourinho prefers one lone striker, and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic performing so well, it is unlikely the United boss will take the Swede out of the firing line any time soon. With record signing Paul Pogba playing in a more advanced position on the field as well, Rooney’s opportunities to play in his favoured number 10 role don’t look too good either.
With Mourinho also expressing his doubts early in the campaign that Rooney can play in a deeper midfield role, it seems playing opportunities will be at a premium in the coming months. A lot depends on how happy the forward is with being a squad player. His goal from the bench against Stoke City showed his continued value to the team, while his creativity is still not in doubt. Rooney has ten assists to his name so far this season which shows he is still a vital member of the squad.
With that mind, I think United may be better served keeping Rooney in the summer rather than allowing him to leave. He still has a lot to offer United, and his experience would be very hard to replace. I think both Mourinho and the club will do everything they can to keep hold of him but it will be very much be down to the player.
Somebody of Rooney’s character, with his competitive edge, may find it frustrating if he remains a substitute for long periods but so far Jose Mourinho seems to be enjoying a positive relationship with his captain as Rooney has handled the decisions made by the manager with total professionalism and the two appear to have good rapport. Many United fans would not like Rooney to leave after such an illustrious career at the club, but it is possible his desire to play may make the decision for him or he could be tempted by the riches available in the Chinese Super League although it is tough to imagine Rooney being so mercenary. We will have to see what happens in the second half of the season on the field but winning silverware plus Champions League football will likely make the club a pretty good place to be no matter what his role is in the squad.
