Debate over my midfield role ‘overreaction’-Rooney

By bbc.co.uk on September 6, 2016

England captain Wayne Rooney says the debate over his role in the team has been an "overreaction".

Rooney, winning his 116th cap, mainly played a deep midfield role in Sunday's 1-0 win over Slovakia, which was new boss Sam Allardyce's first in charge.

Allardyce said post-match it was "not for me to say" what Rooney's position was and he "played wherever he wanted".

But Rooney, 30, said: "I played in that role and helped us win the game - too much is getting made about it."

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Manchester United captain added: "I've done it my whole career and suddenly it's big news. It's not a big thing and I think there's a big overreaction to it."

Rooney's position on the field for club and country has been has been widely discussed this season and England's record goalscorer did not touch the ball once in the Slovakia penalty area during the World Cup qualifier in Trnava.

"With Rooney in a deep-lying midfield role for most of the match, Harry Kane was isolated up front and it killed his game," BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton said in a column for the Daily Mail.

"Rooney can't pick and choose where he plays - it's not a testimonial. He is a lovely passer and technician but if he's not playing to Kane's strengths then the whole team suffer."

Rooney has said he will retire after the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, by which stage he is likely to have overtaken Peter Shilton as England's most-capped player.

But the former goalkeeper, who was capped 125 times by his country, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I thought he should have retired after the Euros, I don't think he's a striker any more - and it's not because he can break my record.

"He's not a midfield player for me, he never was and he never will be. He sprays a few passes around but he's not been very effective."

United manager Jose Mourinho has played Rooney behind new striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic this season, while Roy Hodgson, Allardyce's predecessor as England boss, selected him as a midfielder at Euro 2016.

Allardyce said he "can't stop" Rooney from dropping into midfield and the player has a "lot more experience at international football" than he does.

Rooney added: “I’m playing on the pitch for England. I'm captain of the team and I feel I can do a very good job in the role. I am happy where I'm playing.”

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 6, 2016


 

You may also like...
Fury-Klitschko rematch confirmed for July 9

Leeds Confirm One-Year Contract Extension For Bielsa

Camara, Nyantakyi elected into FIFA Council

Allegri Set to Take One Year Break from...

Real Madrid Defender Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Fireworks In Lokoja, Aba, Kaduna As Aiteo Cup...

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,164 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,307 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,743 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,312 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,507 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media