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After Manchester United’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid in midweek, much of the focus for the media in the last 24 hours has been on Wayne Rooney’s exclusion. Despite the England international scoring a sensational fourth in the 4-0 win over Norwich at the weekend, he was not included in Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in the most important game of the season, leading to questions over his future.
Danny Welbeck, who on the night was one of United’s top performers, was selected as Robin van Persie’s strike partner, and Ryan Giggs was also picked as a wide midfielder instead of Rooney. The media have been stating that Rooney could well leave Old Trafford in the summer after the selection snub, but this seems unlikely.
Rooney may well have been left out of Ferguson’s starting XI for the game against Madrid, but this is not the first time this season or in the forward’s tenure in Manchester that he has been left on the bench. The Scottish manager had a game-plan on the night to face Madrid and selected the players that he felt were best suited to combat the strengths of the Spanish champions.
Shinji Kagawa scored a hat-trick against Norwich at the weekend and also started in the 1-1 draw against Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, yet he too was also not selected for the home leg. The Japan international put in a combative performance in Spain, keeping the ball well in a positive result for United; however not being selected for the Old Trafford game does not mean he has no future at the club.
Rooney, likewise, will still be a key part of Ferguson’s plans. On the night, the experience of Giggs and the explosive pace of Welbeck was selected, and up until Nani’s red card Ferguson’s tactics were spot on. If United had progressed would the same media frenzy around Rooney’s future still be flooding the press? Probably not.
Questions over Rooney’s future will probably continue over upcoming weeks and months, however don’t be surprised to see the attacker in the red of United come the start of next season.
