'Burned out': Twitter reacts to Wayne Rooney omission from Manchester United team
The England skipper faces a crossroads in his career after being left on the bench against Leicester City.
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has been sensationally left on the bench for the Premier League visit of Leicester City. The England international has been punished for a poor run of form which coincided with Jose Mourinho's side losing three times in a row prior to the English Football League Cup win at League One Northampton Town.
The 30-year-old started the EFL Cup third round tie at Sixfields but having been unable to score has failed to retain his place for the visit of Claudio Ranieri's champions on Saturday [24 September]. Marcus Rashford, who has scored three times this term and Jesse Lingard were preferred either side of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Ander Herrera named in midfield.
Despite intending to play Rooney in an attacking position this season, Mourinho has named England's record goalscorer in a deep position in the United midfield – leading to constant criticism over his ability to perform the role. Rooney had claimed the reproach has had no affect on him however it has not prevented him losing his place in the Old Trafford first team.
Rooney's exclusion, the first time he has failed to start in the top flight since April, has sparked debate on Twitter over both the decision and his future at United which appears in jeopardy. IBTimes UK has looked at the best reaction to the biggest decision of the Premier League season so far.
This feels like a huge moment in Wayne Rooney's future at Man Utd. Finally a manager steps up and does the right thing.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) September 24, 2016
Scary, the amount of people who think Rooney was world-class until last 2/3 years but is now ready for the scrapheap. Neither is true.
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) September 24, 2016
Jose Mourinho on dropping Wayne Rooney
"I knew the question would come, but I think the question should be that we have two young English players in the starting line-up. Lingard and Rashford are quick, the game is going to be intense and fast; we need fast players around Zlatan today. The last thing I want to do as a manager is hurt players or create negative situations - in a normal country with a normal media I would say, '23 players, lost of matches to play, fresh people, we have another match on Thursday'. It is just a normal decision."
Rooney has been playing since he was 16. He's never had a season where he's played fewer than 42 games. The bloke's burned himself out.
— Daniel Taylor (@DTguardian) September 24, 2016
Rooney dropped and United play their best football all season, makes you think
— 🕊 (@MADVILLAlNY) September 24, 2016
Thank god Rooney was dropped. Manchester United is playing the best free flowing stacking football I've seen in 3 years.
— Austin Steele (@steeleman273) September 24, 2016
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