Jose Mourinho : Wayne Rooney is the captain, no matter what
Under-pressure Wayne Rooney has received some much-needed support from his manager Jose Mourinho who insists that he will be the captain despite any circumstances. The Manchester United boss praised Rooney's professionalism and supported his retention as the captain of the England team as well.
Wayne Rooney's position in the Manchester United lineup has never been under question under the different managers who have followed Sir Alex Ferguson as they have managed to accommodate him at different positions on the pitch. However, a world record signing can change things and when fitting Paul Pogba and his captain became an issue, as expected, Mourinho took the tough call and dropped Rooney to the bench in the match against Leicester City as well as in their Europa League clash with Zorya Luhansk. Following a string of defeats until then, United then thumped the defending champions 4-1 and then won the Europa encounter 1-0.
But Mourinho has backed Rooney to the hilt and said that he will remain captain in any circumstance.
"Wayne is the captain, no matter what," Mourinho told several English newspapers. "It doesn't matter whether he is on or off the pitch.
"He is my captain and the captain of the club and the captain of the players. And that is difficult, to be the captain of everyone. So he has all the respect and all the support.
"He is a Manchester United man, he is a great professional and wants to win and of course he was happy when we scored.
"He is speaking to the players and motivates people. He does exactly in the dressing room the same as he did a couple of weeks ago when he was starting matches.
He is our man. He will score goals for us and he will work hard for us, I have no doubts about it.
Mourinho
Mourinho also backed Rooney to retain his captaincy of the England team that will regroup under interim coach Gareth Southgate, who took over after Sam Allardyce's inglorious sacking.
"If you ask me if am I happy with the decision to make Wayne captain, I will tell you that I am very happy," Mourinho said.
"Any good decision that Gareth takes about one of my players will always get my respect and support.
"Gareth always has my support -- as Sam had, as Sven Goran Eriksson had, and all the other ones in my time as a Chelsea manager or Manchester United manager.
"Gareth is now the national team manager and doesn't just have 100 percent respect from me, he has 200 percent respect. I think he was right to make Wayne his captain."
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