- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
‘England critics hurt Rooney’
- Updated: September 24, 2016
Wayne Rooney’s form has been hit because of criticism after England’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia, according to Jose Mourinho.
The Manchester United boss admitted his captain did not have “special privileges” and would be dropped if necessary ahead of the visit by champions Leicester in the lunchtime showdown at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports 1HD.
While Rooney, who has not scored since the season-opener at Bournemouth, has dismissed much of his criticism as “rubbish”, Mourinho believes the 30-year-old was lambasted unfairly after England’s 1-0 win in Trnava on September 4 – Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge of the national side.
Mourinho, hoping to avoid a third successive league defeat this weekend, said: “Honestly, I think there was a Wayne before the Slovakia-England [game] and a Wayne after the Slovakia-England [game].
“I am not blaming Sam [Allardyce], not at all. I am blaming the people that after the England-Slovakia [game] were, in my opinion, too strong with somebody that is a …
