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United boss Mourinho laughs at his critics

According to the Mirror, the Danish global will endure an extended stint on the sidelines, missing the Foxes’ huge clash on Saturday against Manchester United at Old Trafford, as well as the club’s first ever Champions League home fixture against FC Porto on Tuesday, with new summer signing Ron-Robert Zieler likely to step in to replace him.

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The England and Red Devils captain is in woeful form – with many fans calling for the forward to be dropped by Jose Mourinho.

After three defeats in a week, United came into the game under pressure and Mourinho named a side full of quality including captain Rooney.

While Rooney, who has not scored since the season-opener at Bournemouth, has dismissed much of his criticism as “rubbish”, Mourinho believes the 30-year-old was lambasted unfairly after England’s 1-0 win in Trnava on September 4 – Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge of the national side. “You have to be very lucky, so feel good and fight hard”.

That has not always been the case in recent years, where David Moyes and Louis van Gaal stoked Rooney’s sense of entitlement despite a progressively reducing contribution in the three seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. “He’s a great manager and a fantastic person”, the Italian, Mourinho’s predecessor at Chelsea, added. “Others also with important investment so this is the Premier League and I think that’s why people love the Premier League”.

“It is my last word about it and again I repeat, he is making his money”.

“Football is a different story”.

“But [Drinkwater] signed a new contract and I think he doesn’t have a clause, so if Manchester United want him it is OK”. 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. “If he has to stay at home, he stays at home”, said Mourinho.

“We have no problems”. But even at 25 metres, you have to jump and go and press, but no, we wait.This is a tactical but also a mental attitude. “I would love to protect my players, but from you (the media) I can’t”, Mourinho said.

“Yeah, I think I have had that my whole career – a little bit more of late, I think, but that’s football”.

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Asked about his decision to drop Rooney, Mourinho said: “Rashford plays and Lingard plays”.

Manchester United: Wayne Rooney dismisses criticism of his performances as 'rubbish'