Mourinho dismissed reports the England forward was told to leave Old Trafford to get regular first-team football.

Rooney, 31, has not started a league game since the 3-1 defeat to Watford on 18 September and has missed United’s last two games with injury.

“There is no problem at all but you need stories to sell papers,” said the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss.

“[Rooney] is a top player, a very important player for us,” added Mourinho. “He is going nowhere – we like him, he likes us. He’s not happy because he’s been on the bench but he is even unhappier when he’s injured.”

Rooney is now fit after recovering from the calf injury that forced him to miss Sunday’s 4-0 defeat to Chelsea and Wednesday’s EFL Cup win over Manchester City.

He is just four goals short of surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s tally of 249 goals for United, to become the club’s all-time record goalscorer.

But he has scored just once this season and has not found the net in his last 10 games for United.

Mourinho said he also had been misquoted, after he was reported to have said living alone in Manchester had become a “bit of a disaster”.

He added: “You write lies, even about myself when I say it’s a disaster because every time I leave the hotel I have somebody chasing me, you say my life is a disaster. You can write what you want but many times it is not true.”

‘Mkhitaryan needs time’

Mourinho believes midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan can become an important player for United, but needs time to adapt to the “intensity and aggression” of the English game.

The Armenian, 27, signed for £26m from Borussia Dortmund in July, having been voted Bundesliga player of the year last season.

He has only played 104 minutes all season and has not featured since being taken off at half-time in the league defeat by Manchester City on 10 September.

Mourinho said Mkhitaryan “is training with the team 100%”.

“Mkhitaryan is not injured,” he added. “Sometimes I confuse the meaning ‘fit’ in English language. Sometimes fit is ready to compete.

“Some players are really adapted to come and play and not to feel. Some players they need time, to feel it, to feel the intensity, time to feel the aggression, the game without the ball.”

Mourinho compared the Armenian’s arrival to that of Brazil midfielder Willian when the Portuguese was in charge at Chelsea.

“Willian when he arrived at Chelsea he had problems, he went through a process and the next season he was a champion. He was phenomenal and he still is,” said Mourinho.

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Source: BBC

The post Rooney is going nowhere – Mourinho appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Interim manager Gareth Southgate said the decision was tactical and not a reflection of the forward’s form.

Rooney, who was booed by sections of the Wembley crowd during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Malta, has not started Manchester United’s past three matches.

The 30-year-old said there was “no embarrassment” in being on the bench.

Rooney will retain the captaincy but Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson will be the on-field skipper on Tuesday.

England’s record scorer and most-capped male outfield player, with 53 goals in 117 appearances, Rooney has netted once in 12 games for club and country this season.

“My game now? Of course, I’m not denying it is in a difficult period. I’ve been on the bench the last few games for Manchester United but that’s part of football,” said Rooney.

“I have to work hard and, when I’m needed for both club and country, I’ll make sure I’m ready.”

Tottenham’s Eric Dier will replace Rooney in midfield against Slovenia.

Southgate added: “We have looked at the way Slovenia play and I knew in my mind the profile of the midfield I wanted to play in this game. In no way is it a reflection of Wayne’s performance on Saturday.

“He had a lot of the ball and played with great tactical discipline. It’s not an easy decision to take because of the respect I have for him as the captain of this team.”

Rooney said being dropped by England had not changed his plans to retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Asked if he was surprised to be left out, he added: “No, I think it is football.

“I’ve played 13 years non-stop for England and given everything. A time comes when you’re not the first name on the team sheet, which I have been in the past.”

Rooney also praised Henderson, 26, who succeeded Steven Gerrard as Liverpool captain.

“I think Jordan is a fantastic leader,” added Rooney. “He has taken a difficult job from Steven Gerrard and grown into the position.

“He has great leadership qualities and he deserves his chance. It will be an incredibly proud moment for him and his family.”

‘Rooney has acted with a lot of class’
Wayne Rooney has acted with a lot of class and it is not easy for him to take being dropped. He has taken it gracefully.

Southgate has made the right decision. There isn’t a place for Rooney in the current England team, it is as simple as that and we have to move on now.

You have to credit Southgate. The past two England managers didn’t have the gumption to drop him and he should have been dropped.
Settled position would help – Rooney

Rooney has mainly played in an advanced midfield role for United this season, but deeper for England.

Asked if his game would benefit from a settled position, he replied: “It would, of course. But that’s the managers’ decision where they want me to play.

“I am not naive in terms of thinking that I am still a 20-year-old who could do what I could do when I was 20.

“I am 30 years of age. I am not 35 or 36 where you are thinking, ‘can you get back from it?’ I feel fine.

“[Manchester United great] Ryan Giggs at 30 wasn’t the same player as at 18 – and he played till he was 40. Players re-evaluate and work out the best way to move forwards. I’m sure that will happen with me.

“After the summer it would have been easy for me to walk away and say: ‘That’s it, I’ve had enough.’ But that’s not me.”

We haven’t looked after Wayne – Southgate
Southgate said he did not like the idea of “satisfying” Rooney’s critics by dropping his captain, and said he was “more annoyed” than Rooney by the negative reaction.

“There is a thing of respect and unfortunately very often we don’t see it fully until players retire and they are finished. I know that is the case,” he said.

Southgate said he remembered former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson saying of a young Rooney: “Look after him, he’s your future.”

He added: “I’m not sure we’ve always done that.”

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Source: BBC

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