Wayne Rooney has been an integral part of Manchester United since his transfer from Everton in 2004. After the acquisitions of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henriyk Mkhitaryan joined the side in the summer of 2016, Rooney has been sidelined and offered the role of a super-sub.
At 30, Rooney has won everything there is to win in the modern game at club level and many people might question why he should stay on at the club after five premier league titles, one Uefa champion’s league and a FIFA club world cup title among other notable accolades.
In the 2011/12 season with Sir Alex Ferguson in charge at the club, the team failed to progress to the knockout stages of the champions league placing third in the group stage and competing in the Uefa Europa league.
It ended under the leadership of Marcelo Bielsa at the helm of Athletic Bilbao by a 5-3 aggregate score.
Manchester United has a quest to win an unofficial treble and thus the English league cup, English FA cup and the Europa league. The final of the English league cup comes off against Southampton on Sunday. With injury-prone Henriyk Mhkitaryan out due to a hamstring, Wayne Rooney is expected to fill the void left by the Armenian and help the team win its second silverware under the Mourinho-era.
Wayne Rooney would be important for Manchester United for the rest of the season
If Manchester United wins the English league cup on Sunday, it would be one down and two to go. Jose Mourinho has said that ‘he cannot field a B-Team in the FA cup because has got a lot of respect for the competition”.
Not only that, the opposition Chelsea gives Mourinho a great opportunity to make up for the four nil thrashing the team experienced in October. Wayne Rooney would be needed to bring experience and depth to the squad to help ensure progression to the next of the competition.
The round of 16 for the Uefa Europa league comes off on Friday, February 24.
With big guns AS Roma and AC Fiorentina looking to book their places in the next stage of the competition on Thursday the team would definitely require the services of the record goal scorer for both club and country.
Injury-Stricken Manchester United Needs Rooney
The midfield of Manchester United, right-back and goalkeeping department has been the most stable part of the club in 2016/17.
Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Darmian are all eligible for left-back roles whiles the former two can also play in the heart of the defense alongside Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly or Phil Jones. Upfront, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been the most consistent player playing as the main focal point of attack and supported on the wings two of Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Ashley Young while Rooney is reserved and thrown into the game to support Ibrahimovic when tides need to be turned in favor of the club.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are still learning the ropes at the club though they contribute extensive to the success of the club. Rooney is a seasoned athlete who brings more to the game other than just appearing on the field of play.
Wayne Rooney’s experience is needed to see the club through the season. A popular hardworking athlete in the shadow of the all-time goal scorer for his club and country cannot leave in the middle of a project. Legends like Rooney leave on a high note after winning titles because he is among the greatest players of his generation.