Chris Smalling’s header put United ahead before Juan Mata finished off a slick move with a crisp strike.
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By the time Rooney came on in the 83rd minute, the contest was done and dusted, and Leicester were just trying to make a game of it.
“Football everyone is the same and if he has to go on the bench, he goes on the bench. If he has to stay at home, he stays at home”.
Rooney bore the brunt of the criticism following his laboured displays in the “No 10” playmaker role, and Mourinho made a decision to put his 30-year-old captain on the bench in the biggest call of his United reign to date. However, United slowly gained composure and more of the possession, before Smalling stepped up and headed his side ahead off a corner in the 22nd minute.
The Saturday clash was the first time this season that the Red Devils have played without Rooney in the league, and the difference was nearly palpable.
Rooney played the final seven minutes of the match after replacing Rashford and Mourinho insisted in the aftermath of victory that the England forward was still a “big player for United”.
With Ander Herrera also preferred to Marouane Fellaini in the centre of midfield alongside Paul Pogba, Mourinho’s side looked more like the vintage United who regularly trampled their opponents at Old Trafford under manager Alex Ferguson. If I don’t play Lingard you ask me why and you prefer always to ask why somebody is not playing.
“After we scored the first goal, Leicester were still in the game so the second goal and then the third goal killed off the game”.
Pogba delivered a disguised chip over the top to Ibrahimovic who volleyed over, fired in a dipping 35-yarder that was well saved by Ron-Robert Zieler, and sliced through a pass that freed Antonio Valencia.
They had four goals to show for their efforts as Leicester were no match to United’s slick and dominating display.
Claudio Ranieri brought off Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez at half-time with that game in mind, leading to a change in formation and fortunes against a United side in cruise control.
In other action, Sergio Aguero scored twice to take his tally to 11 in six games in leader Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Swansea.
Jose Mourinho’s men avoided the ignominy of a fourth loss by overcoming Northampton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, but the spectre of a third straight league defeat remained.
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“It’s not possible to concede three goals off corners, that means you are not concentrating”.
