After Wayne Rooney was dropped by Jose Mourinho for Manchester United’s game against Leicester City at Old Trafford over the weekend, former player and commentator Gary Neville said that the forward’s future now lay in his own hands. The Red Devils roared back into form with a thumping 4-1 victory over the struggling Premier League champions and Rooney’s absence saw other players thrive in a very convincing first half.
While most of the goals came from set-pieces, there was no doubt that United were creating a number of opportunities. Chris Smalling, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford got on the scoresheet but, in reality, they could have scored more, especially through Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The result sees Mourinho’s side back in the mix and currently lie in sixth place. Many were quick to point out that United were playing better without their skipper in the starting XI. And Neville pointed out that Rooney would now have to settle for a different role just like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes did towards the end of their careers at Old Trafford.
“This is a transition into a new phase of his career where he's potentially got to play a different way,” Neville said on his podcast.
“No player at 22 is the same at 32, 33, 34. If you look at Paul Scholes, he went from a marauding midfield[er] to a holding midfield player, Steven Gerrard the same, [Ryan] Giggs from a flying winger to a central midfield player.
“Rooney's going through that period now,” Neville explained. “I think potentially there will be a little bit of relief for him, in the sense of the scrutiny around him in the last week. It's how Wayne Rooney reacts to it.
“There will come a point where he will have to make that decision of either playing every week or coming to that point in his career where he may come out of the team one week, then go back in and adapt to that type of position.”
Mourinho made a big call to drop Rooney: Neville
Before the season, Mourinho had claimed that Rooney would not play as a midfielder in his side. Yet, that is where he has been deployed since the start of the season and United’s game has slowed down significantly.
Mourinho's excuse for dropping Rooney stemmed from the idea of having faster players around Ibrahimovic. “Against a team like Leicester, the best solution for us was to play with the two fast kids and Mata in a position where he can interact with them,” Mourinho had said after the game. “It did well for us.”
And Neville agrees with what Mourinho had done thanks to the end result as United claimed all three points.
“It is a big call to leave Rooney out,” Neville said. “I know Jose said it's a normal thing, but it is a big call. He's a big personality, it brings headlines.
“If United lose today it comes with criticism. The fact they've won 4-1 it's the perfect day for Jose Mourinho.”
Manchester United next play Ukrainian side FC Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League at home before welcoming Stoke City who are stuck in the relegation zone. It remains to be seen whether Rooney will start both games for Mourinho.
