As United prepares to face Premier League champion Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday, Rooney has admitted to the increased attention but denied it is affecting his form. “We had a bad week, a bad eight days where we’ve lost three games, and it’s important now we react well to that and come through that”.
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United avoided the ignominy of a fourth straight defeat and exiting the EFL Cup to lower-league opposition on Wednesday, with Michael Carrick, Herrera and Marcus Rashford securing a 3-1 return to winning ways at Northampton.
However, after a trio of home clashes against champions Leicester, live on Sky Sports 1, and bottom-of-the-table Stoke in the league, as well as Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League, Mourinho’s side face a stern examination of their credentials following the global break.
Leicester face Man United on Sunday and Ranieri is wholesome in his praise for his opposite number.
“It’s always good to be at home”, he added.
“We’re all disappointed because I think we were in the game, but they’ve come, it’s one of the biggest teams in the world and we haven’t disgraced ourselves”.
He said: “We are fearless”. We want to be at the top of the table and we have to win.
Arsene Wenger, named as Arsenal manager 20 years ago this week, will hope to celebrate with victory in the London derby at home to Chelsea.
“We are more positive and more optimistic”.
A run of three home games in succession provides Manchester United with the ideal platform to gain some momentum leading into the next worldwide break.
“Everyone can jump the gun and say “drop Rooney” because he’s a stand-out high profile player who isn’t performing, but if you drop him who do you play instead?”
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri insists he has buried the hatchet with Jose Mourinho and any issues are “prehistoric”.
“Of course we are playing against the last Premier League winners, the champions, so we have to respect them but we have to try to win”. It’s normal, he’s a great manager and a fantastic person.
“We still have, I think, six or seven games before that, so we will have time to think about it”.
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“Maybe he will offer me a good red wine”.
