United will fear Wayne Saha says emotional Rooney is big threat
LOUIS SAHA is backing Wayne Rooney to score on his emotional return to Old Trafford tomorrow – but can understand if he is reluctant to celebrate just like Denis Law. Saha claims Manchester United will pile on the misery for Everton by inflicting their fourth consecutive defeat and tips the man who replaced Rooney, Romelu Lukaku, to continue his hot streak. Saha, who played for United and Everton, is convinced Rooney will receive a warm welcome from the United fans. He even said: “Rooney will find a way to score. I’m scared for United that he can find different ways.” Saha said of the game: “It will be interesting to see how United handle the pressure of not having as much possession and also having more pressure placed on their defence. They haven’t been challenged so far. “But I’ll go for a 2-1 win for United. They are title contenders. They look really strong and really composed. I really like the signing of Lukaku. I like United’s attack. “Lukaku will also score – he has everything. He’s strong and he can play in different styles. Sometimes it’s very tough, there is no space and not a lot of chances, but with Lukaku’s strength, he can hold the ball and he can create his own chances. He’s definitely the type of player who can still improve.”
Because of Rooney’s longevity at United, Saha can understand if he is reluctant to celebrate if he scores, as was Law when he famously helped send United down in 1974.
But Saha does not believe it will be a problem for Lukaku if he finds the net against a club he spent four seasons with.
“I don’t see why Lukaku can’t celebrate but I can see why Rooney can’t and would hesitate to,” said Saha.
“I think it will be an emotional moment for him.”
Saha says Everton was the only obvious choice for Rooney when he decided to leave United because Goodison Park is where he launched his career and he has unfinished business at what has always been his spiritual home, plus he did not have to uproot.
“He clearly decided he wanted a new challenge and as a player you always want
to play in every game and he was starting to find that harder in this new-look United team,” said Saha.
“Everton are such a great club to join after being at United and many players have made that move in the last few years, including me. It’s because the transition is not hard because Everton are always competitive and want to win trophies.
“Wayne will be able to make history there. It’s a great move for him, familywise as well as football because his wife is having a fourth child and he can have them around and doesn’t need to move house.
“There’s a lot of stuff outside of football that made him make the choice to go back there and I respect that.”
Jose Mourinho described Rooney as “one of the most important players in the club’s history” and believes fans should afford him the respect he deserves before and after the game – but not during it.
“I think he’ll get the welcome he deserves,” said Mourinho. “Sometimes in this country, the word ‘legend’ comes too easily. That’s not the case here. He is a real legend of this club – for the number of appearances, the number of goals, number of trophies.
“Clearly he is one of the most important players in the history of United. And I think the stadium will show him the respect he deserves before and after the match, not during the match.”
Asked whether the pair would have a pre-match catch-up, Mourinho added: “I think, before, an obvious hug, we’ve been friends. But we’ll talk after the match when the players’ dressing room and my office are open for him. He doesn’t need to knock.”
Mourinho is delighted with Lukaku’s start but believes it will be hard for him to match Rooney’s goals tally even if he stays at the club for the bulk of his career.
“Romelu has come here at the right time,” said Mourinho.
“He is only 24 but Wayne arrived much earlier. Wayne spent 10 years of his career in a different Premier League than you have now. A league where it was easier to score not just because of the difference between the top teams and others but because of the profile and the tactical interpretation of the competition.
“This Premier League now is much more defensively-minded.” ●LOUIS SAHA has made the Big Call with online betting site BetStars. He is backing United to beat Everton 2-1. #Callit at www.betstars.uk/ sites/football/ manutd-everton