Wayne Rooney admits his place in Manchester United’s starting XI is coming under serious pressure as Jose Mourinho continues to bring in big names.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the England captain conceded:
“You always feel you have to prove yourself every season because it’s a dream to play for them. I think you always feel pressure when you play for Manchester United.”
Mourinho is still unsure of exactly where Rooney will play, with predecessor Louis van Gaal moving him deeper into a midfield role last season, as opposed to his traditional position as an out-and-out striker.
Rooney’s flexibility gives him a much better chance of a starting place, but with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford likely to start up front, it will be difficult for him to get many goals.
The 30-year-old will also have to fight for his place in the midfield, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan expected to occupy an attacking role and Paul Pogba set for a big-money move to Old Trafford.
It’s worth Mourinho persevering with Rooney, at least for his experience but it’s already becoming clear he won’t have an automatic right to game time as he’s done under previous managers.
How he copes with that could determine his future at the club.
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