MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Jose Mourinho is facing the biggest question of his short reign as Manchester United manager: What to do with Wayne Rooney?
While most of United’s top players were benched or rested entirely for the English League game against third-tier Northampton on Wednesday, Rooney played the full 90 minutes – less than three days before a big Premier League match against champion Leicester.
There could be two explanations for this selection: Mourinho either wanted his captain out on the field to lead the team in a potentially tricky away cup tie; or there’s a chance Rooney could be left out at the weekend.
In a terse television interview before the Northampton game, Mourinho was twice asked what he wanted from Rooney. “Goals,” came the reply from the stern-faced Portuguese coach, both times.
United won 3-1 but Rooney, who started the match as a central striker before dropping deeper in the second half, did not score.