MANCHESTER UNITED CAPTAIN Wayne Rooney has paid the price for his poor run of form, by being dropped to the bench for their Premier League clash against champions Leicester City.
Rooney, who has started United’s first five Premier League games of the season, and played in the EFL Cup match against Northampton Town in midweek, has netted only once so far this term.
Speaking to Sky Sports before the game, the former Chelsea manager explained his decision.
“Rashford plays, and Lingard plays. I knew the question would be Rooney, but the question should be Lingard and Rashford,” Mourinho said.
“Two young England players in the starting line-up. They are quick, the game is going to be intense and fast, the way they play they stretch the game. When our main striker is Zlatan we need fast people surrounding him.
“The last thing I want to do is to hurt players or create negative situations for them.
“In a normal football country with normal media, I would say there are 23 players with plenty of chances to play.
“Fresh people, we have another match on Thursday. If Rooney doesn’t play today he plays the next one. It is a normal decision.”
Defender Chris Smalling will skipper the team in Rooney’s absence.
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Pogba; Lingard, Mata, Rashford, Ibrahimovic.
Substitutes: Romero, Rojo, Fosu-Mensah, Carrick, Fellaini, Young, Rooney.
Leicester City: Zieler; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Amartey, Albrighton; Slimani, Vardy.
Substitutes: Hernández, King, Hamer, Schlupp, Okazaki, Gray, Ulloa.
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