United captain Wayne Rooney has faced fierce criticism after a string of poor performances in recent weeks but Mourinho said the forward should not be singled out from the rest of the squad.
Advertisement
Wayne Rooney has labelled recent calls for him to be dropped from the Manchester United side as “rubbish”.
After playing as a number 10 in every game this season, Mourinho questionably made a decision to deploy the 30-year-old as an out-and-out striker for the EFL Cup against Northampton.
He came up with another lacklustre show in United’s 3-1 win in the EFL Cup third round tie against Northampton Town on 21 September despite playing upfront.
Asked to comment on the scrutiny that he has attracted in the media, Rooney replied: “I think I’ve had that my whole career – a little bit more of late, I think, but that’s football”. We don’t win in three games and, of course, everyone is going to talk about it. We all lost three matches in a week.
As Ranieri steered Leicester to their historic Premier League title, Mourinho was looking for work after being fired by Chelsea in December.
“They won the Premier League because some of the big teams were not good enough last season, but they won because they were very good and they are still very good”.
Rooney has been played in various positions – up front and in midfield – and he has insisted that he will play wherever manager Jose Mourinho puts him.
“I always said since day one that my title ambitions were motivational factors, I don’t believe you can be at this club and say different”, Mourinho explained. I don’t want to go when there is just you and me to play.
“We had a bad week”.
That result earned United a last-16 tie at home to derby rivals Manchester City, whose 100 percent winning start to the season under Pep Guardiola has contrasted starkly with United’s stuttering beginnings.
“We still have, I think, six or seven games before that, so we will have time to think about it. But that’s the new football.it’s full of Einsteins”.
“I still know a few of the staff and one or two players I played with, so it will be good to see them”.
Advertisement
Jose Mourinho’s arrival along with some big-name signings increased the excitement around Old Trafford, with expectation growing after Community Shield success was followed by three straight Premier League victories.
