Wayne Rooney has cut a frustrated figure at Manchester United this season.
The Red Devils captain is taking his time about breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 goals for the club and hasn’t been able to make much of an impact since moving to midfield.
It’s understandable that the England international would like to get that particular achievement out of the way as soon as possible, but it seems he took his angst a little too far against Crystal Palace.
Jose Mourinho took the 31-year-old off with the scores at 1-1, and Rooney then proceeded to smash his boot against the dugout.
It’s easy to see why many United fans jumped to the conclusion that the two men had fallen out; it wouldn’t be wholly surprising given the bit part role Rooney has played in recent months, but Mourinho has moved to assure them that no such thing has happened.
Instead, the Portuguese admitted Rooney was left frustrated by refereeing decisions, hence his little display of anger.
“He was angry with a possible penalty,” Mourinho told reporters.
“He was complaining with the referee, he was complaining with the fourth official too.”
Joe Ledley did indeed go unpunished for a handball in the box, but it didn’t have too much bearing on the result as Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored an 88th-minute winner for the visitors. Juan Mata also had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside.
United don’t seem to have had the rub of the green when it comes to decisions this season, but this, at least, was three points that they managed regardless.
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