Rooney must up his game to make his mark under Jose
Manchester United goals. A personal favourite is the volley against Newcastle in 2005, breaking off from giving referee Neale Barry pelters to smash it in from 30 yards.
It was an emphatic introduction to what we would ld see for a decade – instinctive, tinctive, ingenious finishing.ing.
He is England’snd’s record scorer and nd will eventually bee Man ch e s t e r United’s record sc orer but, somehow, Rooney ’s f inishing hass never quite got ot th e cred i t it deserves.
Jose Mourinho o knows it is Rooney’s forte,orte, which is why he will not deploy him in a conventional midfield role.
In a passionate defence of Rooney’s recent performances, Jamie Carragher insisted it was natural for him to drop
“Normally, I don’t thank God for these type of things – God has more important stuff to worry about, but today is too much, I had to raise my eyes and thank him.
“I feel very lucky. I feel my life is a never-ending privilege.”
No, Alex. Getting to watch remarkable men and women like yourself is the privilege. It has been for two wonderful weeks. deeper as his career begins its final laps. But what Rooney should be doing naturally is scoring goals. Simple as that. His omission from the Europa League game at Feyenoord was a shot across his bows. Mourinho explainedex he was being rested to be fresh for today’s match at Watford. H He was being rested aft after being given the r runaround by Manchester City. Mo u r i n h o w would have hoped f for a decent display a against Feyenoord, g giving him the o option of letting Rooney rest for a while longer. It was not forthcoming. But thatdthat does not mean Rooney does not have to up his game. It is time for a selfless player to become selfish. Rooney has to accept that the only place where he has a future for Mourinho is in the final third of the field.
His performances so far this season have suggested a player still under the illusion he can see out his career with a few seasons as Paul Scholes.
Mourinho has been patient – United’s season is only four Premier League games old and Rooney has scored one goal and assisted two others – but the manager feels his captain is not giving him enough threat.
When ruling out a midfield role for Rooney, Mourinho made it clear what he expects.
“Players change their characteristics with age... but the natural appetite to put the ball in the net never changes.”
It was that appetite that made Mourinho try to sign Rooney for Real Madrid in 2010 and for Chelsea in 2013.
As he lurches towards Charlton’s mark of 249 United goals – and he is three shy – he needs to work up another appetite in 2016.
Otherwise, Mourinho might just make it not so inevitable that Rooney eclipses Sir Bobby.
TWO days before Blackburn clinched the 1994-95 Premier League title, manager Kenny Dalglish organised a match for himself and his backroom staff against journalists. One of our number missed a great chance in the opening minute. We lost 13-0. Trudging back, the misfiring striker suggested to Kenny (right, top) it might have been different had that great early chance been taken. “Aye,” said Kenny, “… it would have been 13-1.” For some reason I thought of that when listening to Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers (right) on Tuesday.