ROONEY
With a rustling beard and a weary frown, Wayne Rooney
returned to the Manchester United team for only his second Premier
League start since September 18, when he was wretched in a 3-1
defeat by Watford.
He might have hoped for a central role, as a the traditional
frontman or perhaps playing in behind a striker. Nowadays, however, Rooney is
not in a position to dictate. He can barely get on the pitch in the Premier
League, so when he is granted a chance, he will do as he's told.
After all, Rooney resides in Zlatan's world now. And in
Zlatan's world, there is only one man leading the line and it is not Wayne
Rooney.
In behind Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba strutted his stuff,
afforded freedom by the return to prominence of Michael Carrick. It was these
two talents, the two major summer signings, who combined for the two United
goals. For the first Ibrahimovic teed up Pogba (quite possibly with the use of
his forearm) and for the late winning strike, the Frenchman returned the favour
with a splendid reverse ball that the forward struck into the corner of the
goal.
By that stage, Rooney had been substituted, making way in
the 80th minute for the younger, fresher Marcus Rashford. It had been a
frustrating, exasperating evening for Rooney.
He found himself reduced to part of the support cast,
clinging on for relevance as he played from the left wing. In truth, he did a
disciplined job, with an eye as much towards his own goal as that of this shaky
Crystal Palace defence. At left-back, Daley Blind required support dealing with
the tricky Wilfried Zaha and that would be Rooney's foremost task for the
night. But is this all that Wayne Rooney can be now? The willing dogsbody, the
sacrifice for greater talents to shine.
Rooney used to play this role in his more vibrant days for
Sir Alex Ferguson but there was a menace back then that no longer exists. When
United broke with him on one side and Cristiano Ronaldo through the middle, it
was like the red arrows as United descended on goal with pace and brutal
precision. It was that way on Sunday when Henrikh Mikhtaryan scored a
blistering strike on the counter-attack and without the Armenian flying
forward, United's edge was blunted here.
Nowadays, Rooney struggles to keep up. On one occasion in
the second-half, United looked to turn defence into attack but as Ibrahimovic,
Pogba and Juan Mata sprang forward, Rooney was still midway inside his own
half.
Soon after Palace equalised, Rooney was
the one sacrificed. Mourinho simply believes in Pogba and Ibrahimovic that
little bit more.
As Rooney exited the field, the frustration was all too
much. He exchanged terse words with the fourth official, clearly angered by the
referee's failure to award United a penalty in the second-half for what
appeared to be a clear handball.
A goal changes an awful lot in football, however, and by the
end, they were all smiling again.
Mourinho greeted the final whistle by rushing
onto the pitch and embrace Ibrahimovic. When the teams headed down the tunnel,
Rooney waited for the main man, sharing a handshake and exchanging grins.
This is his life in Zlatan's world.
WAYNE ROONEY MATCH STATS
Minutes played: 80
Shots on target: 2
Shots off target: 1
Successful crosses: 1
Unsuccessful crosses: 0
Chances created: 3
Assists: 0
Passes 49 (short 46)
Passing accuracy 83.7 per cent
Duels won: 4
Duels lost 4
Recoveries: 4
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