“Wayne Rooney is a big player for me, United and this country”.
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Wayne Rooney has been dropped by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Although the club captain struck a positive note as he waved and applauded the fans as he headed down the tunnel, his role as the team’s driving force is under serious threat after United thrived with Juan Mata filling his position superbly.
“Sometimes when I read you (in the media), I feel I know nothing about football”, Mourinho said. I don’t know, we prepare [for] the games in the same way and with the same professionalism.
“I think he’s a very experienced guy and he’s played that many games that I think it’ll only be a matter of time before he’s back in there and firing again because he’s quality”.
“Today we had intensity, movement and dynamism”, Mourinho said. To be back home and beat the champions is good.
“(Zlatan Ibrahimovic) Ibra played absolutely incredible in the way he started our pressure.
Rooney is England’s record scorer on 53 goals.
Leicester was so overwhelmed in the first half that its two chief attacking weapons, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, were substituted at halftime with manager Claudio Ranieri in damage-limitation mode and later acknowledging he was thinking ahead to the Champions League next week. It’s unusual too because we switched off.
Leicester imploded defensively as United racked up four goals between the 22nd and 42nd minutes. Normally the second half is better. United were keeping it safe for much of the second period, and the chances that came by were far less than in the first 45 minutes.
Mata set up the third, receiving a quickly-taken corner by Blind next to the byline and crossing low for Rashford to tap in.
Paul Pogba put in a man-of-the-match performance from midfield today.
“It is about finding that consistency to make sure that we stay at that top end of that table because we don’t want any more blips”.
Leicester City pulled one back at the hour mark thanks to a wonder strike by winger Demarai Gray.
– This was the first time that Juan Mata has scored and assisted in the same Premier League match since September 2015 (versus Sunderland).
We lost six Premier League points but the reality is we aren’t drawing we are winning and have 12 points. Guardiola tied Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea record for six consecutive victories at the start of a league. “I have nothing more to say other than that he is my man and I trust him”.
Liverpool beat Hull 5-1 at Anfield. If he is on the pitch or he is at home, he is my captain, so that is not a problem. Milner made no mistake from the spot.
The most impressive performance of the day came from Arsenal, which marked the 20th anniversary of Arsene Wenger’s appointment by ruthlessly beating Chelsea 3-0. It was wonderful to watch. “I think it was a really good performance”.
However, it is unlikely that the “football Einsteins” will be bothering Mourinho anytime soon, after a comprehensive 4-1 victory against Leicester at Old Trafford.
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Tottenham jumped to second place with a win 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.
