Manchester United news: Jose Mourinho is sure Wayne Rooney will bounce back from being dropped by club and country
JOSE MOURINHO has told Wayne Rooney’s detractors: “You can’t knock him down for good — he’s as tough as me.”
The Special One vowed to rehabilitate Rooney, who has lost his place for club and country, after his England mauling.
Jose Mourinho has left Wayne Rooney on the bench in the last three Manchester United matchesPA:Press AssociationWayne Rooney celebrates after netting winner at Anfield in clash last seasonGetty Images
And the Manchester United boss believes that, like himself, the striker always fights back after being attacked.
Mourinho said: “You can hurt me but you can’t put me down. He’s the same.”
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Rooney, 30, was booed at Wembley against Malta and dropped on form by England for the first time for the goalless draw in Slovenia.
Yet Mourinho says he will relish being back among his United family for the showdown with Liverpool at Anfield tonight.
Mourinho added: “It is time for him to recover from what was done and the best place for him to do that is feeling like he feels at home here.”
Wayne Rooney admits he is going through a difficult time with England and Man UtdAP:Associated Press
Rooney is in the United squad for Anfield where it is expected the visiting fans will voice support for their embattled skipper.
But despite getting the winner in this fixture last season, it is unlikely Rooney will start tonight.
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Mourinho, who has left United’s club captain out of his last three starting line-ups, added: “The records are not important for me. A match is an isolated event.
“There is no relation to what you did in the past — no relation to what you do in the future.
“That’s why I don’t like the statistics of previous matches, previous results and this kind of thing.”
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