#4 No start for Rooney
Despite not starting in the weekend’s 4-1 victory over Leicester City, Wayne Rooney was again benched to make way for Juan Mata against Zorya.
It was a move that didn’t prove conclusive either way, however, as United struggled to break down an organized Luhansk side throughout the game – barring Ibrahimovic’s goal – regardless of which player was playing in the number 10 slot.
To be fair to him though, Rooney did manage to impact the game when he came on, scuffing a shot off his knee which fell kindly for Ibrahimovic to head home from close range.
Although there was no definitive change in intensity and quality of football with or without him, Mourinho has made it crystal clear that Wayne Rooney doesn’t automatically book himself a starting 11 berth in his team; a decision that could end up serving United well, as the season wears on.
