Mourinho: Man United are a team, not Wayne Rooney

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho has issued a defence of sorts over Wayne Rooney’s struggle for form.

Rooney has failed to impress so far this season, with Mourinho using the Manchester United captain in a number of different playing positions, all to no avail.

He started the season as a No. 10 and scored one goal and assisted a further two in three Premier League games.

But he has also dropped into midfield, and his terrible performances were highlighted in a week in which United lost three successive games.

Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford all defeated Mourinho’s side within eight days, before United beat Northampton in the EFL Cup.

Rooney started as a striker in that victory, but is expected to be dropped for the visit of Leicester on Saturday.

“Wayne Rooney’s form is like Man United’s form,” said the United manager when asked of his captain’s recent displays. “We are a team. We are not Wayne Rooney and we all started well, we all won four matches and we all lost three matches in the week, so that’s not Wayne Rooney.

“To be honest he didn’t play against Feyenoord, so he was not directly involved in that match.

“Everybody is involved in every match, even the ones who are not playing.”