Soccer

Rooney: José Mourinho has brought back winning mentality

Meanwhile, the Portuguese coach is set to initiate a clearout of up to nine players

Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Aon Training Complex in Manchester, England. Photo: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images
Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Aon Training Complex in Manchester, England. Photo: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images
Fri Jul 29 2016 - 12:24

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes new manager Jose Mourinho has brought a winning mentality back to the club.

The Portuguese, who has 17 major trophies on his CV including eight league titles in four countries and two Champions League triumphs with different clubs, replaced Louis van Gaal this summer.

Although his predecessor won the FA Cup in his final match in charge the feeling at Old Trafford was the club was lacking the drive previously provided by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rooney said Mourinho’s arrival has corrected that.

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“It’s always great to get a new manager but when you get someone in the stature of Jose Mourinho he’s great to work under and he’s brought a winning mentality back to the club,” the England captain told Manchester radio station Key 103.

“Manchester United as a football club we have to win and we have to deliver for him.

“There’s pressure on the players but we’re ready and I think this season we’ll give a real challenge on all fronts.

“He’s come in, he’s been great with the players. The training has been hard but enjoyable.

“We’re ready, we’re working hard. We know it’s a big season for us.

“He’s made, in my opinion, some great signings who have gelled in really well with the squad so it’s exciting times.”

The 30-year-old starts the season needing just five goals to break United’s all-time scoring record held by Sir Bobby Charlton but he is already looking at life beyond his playing days.

“I’ve started taking my coaching badges now so that will probably take about four or five years to complete,” he added.

“Of course I’ve got a lot of experience playing football so I think it would be criminal If I didn’t try and pass that knowledge on so hopefully when I finish playing I can get some role as a manager or coach and try and use the experience I’ve built up over the years.”

Rooney described Mourinho as having “a good balance of being the manager but also being a friend to the players” but that may not be an opinion shared by some after the Portuguese reportedly began his summer clear-out with up to nine players said to be on their way out of Old Trafford.

Several national newspapers suggested Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who on Friday announced his retirement from international football with Germany, will be the highest-profile victim a little more than a year after he joined from Bayern Munich.

Defenders Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Tim Fosu-Mensah, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair are also said to have been told they have no future.

Midfielders Adnan Januzaj and Andreas Pereira and forwards James Wilson and Will Keane make up the reported nine.

Since his arrival Mourinho has brought in defender Eric Bailly, midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and are understood to be pursuing a potentially record-breaking deal for Juventus’ France midfielder Paul Pogba.