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Louis van Gaal: Wayne Rooney to play in midfield for Manchester United Louis van Gaal: Wayne Rooney to play in midfield for Manchester United
(35 minutes later)
Louis van Gaal has stated he is not “satisfied” with Wayne Rooney as a striker believing Radamel Falcao is better in the position and suggested the Manchester United captain may have to play in midfield, with the move implying Juan Mata is no longer first choice. Louis van Gaal has stated he is not “satisfied” with Wayne Rooney as a striker, believing Radamel Falcao is better in the position, and he has suggested the Manchester United captain may have to play in midfield, with the move implying Juan Mata is no longer first choice.
United suffered a shock 5-3 defeat at Leicester City on Sunday having led 3-1 before Nigel Pearson’s team scored four unanswered goals to hand the 20-times champions a third league loss of the season. United suffered a shock 5-3 defeat at Leicester City on Sunday having led 3-1 before Nigel Pearson’s team scored four unanswered goals to hand the 20-times champions a second league loss of the season. It left the side in 12th place with only five points from five games.
While that left United in 12th place with only five points from five games, speaking before the match at the Kingpower Stadium to explain a selection that had Rooney replacing Mata as the No10 and Falcao partnering Robin van Persie, Van Gaal said: “We have played well but can improve and I was not so satisfied with [Wayne] Rooney as a striker and [Juan] Mata as midfielder and that’s why I’m changing. Speaking before the match at the Kingpower Stadium to explain a selection that had Rooney replacing Mata as the No10 and Falcao partnering Robin van Persie, Van Gaal said: “We have played well but can improve and I was not so satisfied with Rooney as a striker and Mata as midfielder and that’s why I’m changing.
“Rooney can play in more positions, he’s a multi-functional player and I have tried him in a striker’s position. He’s played well but not spectacular and [Radamel] Falcao is a striker and I think he can do it better.” “Rooney can play in more positions, he’s a multi-functional player and I have tried him in a striker’s position. He’s played well but not spectacular and Falcao is a striker and I think he can do it better.”
Van Gaal again played a 4-3-1-2 formation that had Rooney in the hole behind the strikers and after stating on Friday that his captain has “privileges” regarding always being selected, then Mata may be demoted to a permanent place on the bench.Van Gaal again played a 4-3-1-2 formation that had Rooney in the hole behind the strikers and after stating on Friday that his captain has “privileges” regarding always being selected, then Mata may be demoted to a permanent place on the bench.
Of having to change positions Rooney said: “I’m happy to play out wide - I can do a job there and I can do a job up front. It depends on the situation of each game and what the manager wants me to do.” On having to change positions, Rooney said: “I’m happy to play out wide - I can do a job there and I can do a job up front. It depends on the situation of each game and what the manager wants me to do.”
The 28-year-old also admitted he is now a different kind of footballer.The 28-year-old also admitted he is now a different kind of footballer.
“I’m not the player I was - I feel I’ve progressed my game,” he said. “I’m not the player I was – I feel I’ve progressed my game,” he said. “So I agree with the people who say my game has changed. I [did] too much running when I was younger and then didn’t have the energy to get myself into goalscoring positions in the box.
“So I agree with the people who say my game has changed. I [did] too much running when I was younger and then didn’t have the energy to get myself into goalscoring positions in the box.
“I’m a cleverer player now and know when to run into the box and when not to, and as a result more chances have come my way and I’ve scored a lot more goals for the club.”“I’m a cleverer player now and know when to run into the box and when not to, and as a result more chances have come my way and I’ve scored a lot more goals for the club.”