Jose Mourinho: 'Wayne Rooney should be used as an attacking player'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 24 October 2016

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists that he sees Wayne Rooney as an attacking player and will not deploy him in central midfield.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that he sees Wayne Rooney as an attacking player rather than a central midfielder.

Debate has raged over which position Rooney would be best suited to recently, with the captain being used in a deeper role by England despite being his country's record goalscorer.

However, Mourinho talked down the possibility of using him as a midfielder and believes that the 31-year-old is paying for his own success following the criticism of his form in recent months.

"[There is] a bit of a doubt in relation to his role, to his position, to his future and I think players especially in moments of less confidence, they need to be clear in his head. He cannot be jumping from No 6 to No 9, or No 9 to No 10, or No 9 to No 6. For me, he is an attacking player. What is an attacking player for me? For him, a 9 or 10," he told Sky Sports News.

"Play No 6, play in midfield, not with me unless we need it and unless we ask him to do that, but with me, I want the ideas completely clear. He is a second striker, plays behind the striker or as a striker. That's what I think is Wayne Rooney. I think he's paying for his success. He had so many successes in his career.

"He brought his expectation levels to such a level that people probably think he has to perform in every match, every week, every month, every season at the same level. For me, that's a problem. I think in this country it happens to everyone, it is just your nature, you build people, you kill people, you build again and you destroy again! And I think it is just the nature of the business, especially in football."

Rooney has started just one of United's last six matches in all competitions.