Louis Van Gaal is not impressed with Wayne Rooney’s work in the main attacking position and that’s why he has decided to use the 28 year-old player more as a midfielder now.
In the previous game against Leicester City, Rooney did not play up front. It’s Radamel Falcao who played as striker along with the Dutchman Robin Van Persie.
After the defeat to Leicester, when Van Gaal was asked why Rooney’s playing position was changed, he said, “Rooney had been doing okay as forward, but, he had not been pulling off spectacular performances which were expected of him. Radamel is an out and out forward. So, I thought perhaps he could be better playing there at this point of time.”
Rooney is very close to becoming Manchester United’s highest scorer ever. He is 30 odd goals away from that milestone.
There has been a dip in Rooney’s strike rate over the last couple of years at United and that’s because he has been playing slightly deep.
This season though, Van Gaal backed Rooney to play ahead of the other attacking players, but, his returns have clearly not been satisfying. Making 5 appearances, the Red Devils skipper has struck just two times and that’s not good enough.
Rooney’s showing in the midfield was not great either against Leicester. He committed several errors there and lost his temper as well at times. But, still, many experts reckon that he can offer more playing wide or in midfield rather than playing right up front.
Whichever place Rooney plays at, he needs to start delivering and along with that, he needs to control his anger too. He is the leader and he has to show the way to the youngsters rather than screaming at them out of frustration.