Mourinho Warns Manchester United Star To Focus On His Own Form Before Criticising His Teammates

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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho held a private meeting with club captain Wayne Rooney following the disappointing derby defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, the Daily Star are reporting.

In the meeting, the United boss is supposed to have told England’s record goalscorer to concentrate on his own form rather than spending time criticising his teammates.

Rooney has very much been in the spotlight after he was dropped for Manchester United’s last match against Leicester City. After a frustrating week and poor form which had seen the Red Devils lose three games on the trot, Mourinho’s men produced a devastating first half performance at Old Trafford and eventually sealed an easy 4-1 victory over last season’s champions.

With Rooney sat on the bench for the game, questions have already surfaced about whether the United captain’s time could well be up at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford’s form has helped the England U21 international force his way into the side at Rooney’s expense.

Many believed that Rooney’s own form, or rather lack of, was the reasoning behind the decision to drop him to the bench for last weekend’s game. This latest revelation may well suggest that there were other, unforeseen factors behind the decision.

It’s likely that Rooney will get a chance to do his talking on the pitch in this week’s upcoming match in the Europa League.

Speaking ahead of the game against Leicester last Saturday, Mourinho said:

“Fresh people are needed as we play another match on Thursday against Zorya Luhansk.”

He added:

“If Rooney doesn’t play today, it means he plays the next one.”

Regardless of how well Rooney does play against Zorya Luhansk, it will be hard for him to force his way back into the Premier League starting 11 for the match against Stoke at the weekend.

United’s powerful win over Leicester will make Mourinho reluctant to change the side and if these reports of the secret meeting are true, then Rooney will have to convince his manager that he is prepared to work hard for the team – in more ways than one.