No special privileges for Rooney in team selection, says Mourinho

09/24/2016

Jose Mourinho, on Friday, has hinted that Manchester United's captain Wayne Rooney, could be benched for the game against Leicester City. Mourinho also said that Rooney was affected by criticism after England's match against Slovakia where he failed to impress in the 1-0 victory in Trnava.

After his lacklustre performances in the No. 10 role against Watford last week, Wayne Rooney has been slated by the critics, with many of them asking Jose Mourinho to drop him for United's upcoming matches. Adding some more speculation to it, Mourinho told that his captain does not enjoy any special power when it comes to the team selection.

"Wayne is the captain of the club. He's trusted by the players, he's trusted by myself and he represents the club in a fantastic way as a player and person. But in football, everyone is the same and if he has to go on the bench, he goes on the bench,” Mourinho told.

"If he has to stay at home, he stays at home, but that doesn't mean you don't trust him or you have a problem. Not at all. We have no problems. He's our captain, but of course, no privileges. He's like anyone else," reported BBC Sport.

Mourinho also felt that the criticism Rooney received after the Slovakia game had affected his player.

"I think there was a Wayne before the Slovakia-England and a Wayne after the Slovakia-England. I am not blaming Sam [Allardyce, England manager], not at all. I am blaming the people that after England-Slovakia were, in my opinion, too strong with somebody that is a very important player in the history of English football.

"I think it was too much but I still think, a big boy like he is, he has to face it in a strong way,” Mourinho added.