AGAINST NEWCASTLE ON St. Stephen’s Day, Wayne Rooney was instrumental in Manchester United’s comfortable 3-1 victory, orchestrating everything from a central midfield zone.
Afterwards, his manager Louis van Gaal expressed his delight at Rooney’s influence.
When you score two goals and you give the assist to the third goal, then you are happy as the manager. He has the lung capacity to run 90 minutes as a midfielder. That’s why I used him like a midfielder. I can also use him as a striker. For the team at the moment, it’s better he plays in midfield.”
Why does Van Gaal think so? Well, there are a couple of reasons.
Injuries and formation
What is United’s best starting XI? I’m not sure Van Gaal even knows, essentially because he’s not had a fully fit group to choose from. Hypothetically, it may read as follows: De Gea, Jones, Evans, Rojo, Valencia, Shaw, Carrick, Di Maria, Rooney, Van Persie, Falcao. But we certainly know some things already. Firstly, Van Gaal isn’t convinced by Rooney’s abilities as a striker. He said as much shortly before United were embarrassed by Leicester back in September.
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 multifunctional 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.”
It’s something that’s haunted Rooney throughout his career. Never has he single-handedly propelled United to success like Cristiano Ronaldo or Robin van Persie did. There’s always been someone better. In fact, when he enjoyed his best goalscoring season in 2012, United still finished as runners-up. On the final day of the campaign, it seemed like he had won his team the title by scoring the winner against Sunderland. Then Sergio Aguero popped up with that goal in Manchester and no one remembered Rooney’s consistently impressive performances. Not least Sir Alex Ferguson who promptly went out and bought Van Persie whose goals then won United the 2013 crown.
But, what Van Gaal does appreciate is Rooney’s flexibility – something he adores in players. An ability to play well in a multitude of roles shows intelligence and understanding. And as a former teacher, Van Gaal likes nothing better than smart pupils.
But there’s more to how Rooney finds himself in unfamiliar territory.
A deeper Rooney plays into Van Gaal’s philosophy
From the first time he walked into the dressing room of the England senior team, Rooney never lacked self-belief. In his autobiography, he gets that across sharply.
I have never gone around pinching myself, saying this is unbelievable, isn’t it amazing what I’m doing. Of course it’s fantastic playing for Man Utd, brilliant playing for England, but my main thought when I turn out for either of them is the same – I deserve it.”
Many times, he’s drifted deep to pick up a ball and try and create. Even prior to him being selected in central midfield by Louis van Gaal, his go-to play was to head towards the centre-circle, pick up the ball, turn, look up and spray a pass over the head of the left-back, right onto Antonio Valencia’s boot. There’s a desire within Rooney to spread the play and widen the pitch, something van Gaal always wants (that’s why his teams have had quick players in wide areas – Overmars, Figo, Robben)
There’s also his ability to keep the ball. At various times this season, United have cheaply surrendered possession because of poor quality in the middle of midfield. Without Michael Carrick for a long time, it was left to combative types like Marouane Fellaini and Darren Fletcher to fill the void. With Carrick and Rooney alongside each other against Newcastle, there was a calmness to the central zone and a nice balance.
The benefit of two strikers
Should Falcao stay fit, his place in the starting XI seems pretty secure because of the all-round impact of playing two strikers.
Against Newcastle, Rooney’s first goal came from Van Persie and Falcao pulling wide. Mata attracted the attention of other back-tracking players and subsequently there was acres of space for Rooney to drive right through the middle and pick up the neat assist from the Colombian.
Juan Mata
It’s interesting to wonder whether United and Rooney would’ve had the same impact against Newcastle if Angel di Maria had started. The Argentine is a tour-de-force and a constant menace but Juan Mata is a sensitive and considerate midfielder.
Already this term Van Gaal has commented on Di Maria’s decision-making. After a slender win against Crystal Palace, the ex-Real Madrid winger was put in his place after a very public dressing-down by his current manager.
Sometimes you cannot dribble, so you have to make it a passing game, and Di Maria is not a player who wants to give a pass every time he gets the ball. But in this case we needed that and not dribbles. Therefore he lost the ball a lot and that was not good for the balance of the team.”
Rooney benefited enormously from Mata’s presence and poise against Newcastle. With Di Maria in the side, it’s difficult to know if Rooney would’ve been granted so much licence to push forward and make those highly productive darting runs. The contrast between Di Maria and Mata is huge. The former’s passing average is 81% compared with Mata’s 91% while the Spaniard doesn’t even manage one shot per game on average – Di Maria usually attempts over 3 – the highest number of any player in the United squad.
But, there’s a time and place as Van Gaal will know. Di Maria is an exceptional talent but may not dovetail as well with Rooney if he’s to have a long-term future further from goal.
Speed and intelligence to spot gaps and attack them
It was interesting that Van Gaal spoke of Rooney’s lung capacity after the Newcastle game. His energy has never been in doubt but there’s always been a slight issue in getting Rooney to relax and pick his moments rather than spend 90 minutes bulldozing his way around the pitch.
He spoke about his evolving game earlier in the season.
“I’m not the player I was. I feel I’ve progressed my game. 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 scoring 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.”
Against Newcastle, the deeper role meant he could see the bigger picture, hold back as play developed before then finding a gap and exploiting it.
