My Best Position Is Being On The Pitch – Rooney

Starting with Saturday’s game against Russia in Marseille, Wayne Rooney knows his Euro 2016 performances for England will be under more scrutiny than ever before.

Many believe he shouldn’t start, with former England captain Tony Adams saying this week: “Because Wayne is the captain and there isn’t a lot of leadership elsewhere, the temptation is to play him. I wouldn’t. Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy have been popping them in so let them run. I like the fearlessness of inexperience in attack. You can’t play all three.”

Rooney showed the fearlessness to which Adams referred in the 2004 Euros when he scored four goals as an 18-year-old, but that was 12 years ago. Still, it would be a major surprise if Roy Hodgson didn’t start his 111-cap skipper in the stunningly redeveloped Velodrome stadium, especially as the Manchester United captain is so highly regarded by the younger players in the England squad and knows his role is about more than what he does on the pitch.

Rooney recently met several journalists for an off the record chat in a Manchester restaurant. It was supposed to be a talk about England — as captain of the national team it’s conducive if he has a good relationship with those who cover the team –though the conversation ended up being more about Manchester United.

Rooney spoke very well. He’s matured from the teen who didn’t have particularly interesting views to someone more confident in his opinions. “He realises that younger players look up to him and that he has responsibility,” Gary Neville told me last season. “He’s a leader now on and off the field.”

On the field, according to England assistant manager Neville, Rooney has “been sacrificed to different positions because of his versatility, but he’s still England’s best goalscorer and is a huge danger when played in forward positions.”

New United boss Jose Mourinho is a fan of the 30-year-old and said this week, as Rooney’s United testimonial, against former club Everton on Aug. 3, was announced: “Wayne is and has been England’s best player for over a decade.”

Rooney, England’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals, is likely to play a deeper role for both United and England going forward. Asked in the summer issue of United We Stand if he has actively changed his game over the years — or whether it is something that has naturally evolved due to necessity — Rooney says:

“The answer unfortunately is: ‘No, not specifically.’ But obviously over time and with experience you see the game and experience it differently, which leads to different decisions.

“Throughout my United career I have always been willing to play different positions either under instruction from the manager or for the benefit of the team. I think my record shows I have always enjoyed assisting goals as much as scoring them and I also enjoy the involvement from deeper positions.”

Rooney will make those sacrifices for Mourinho, but nobody can pretend he looked his happiest under Louis van Gaal, who he went to see several times with concerns about United’s style of play. The Dutch manager preferred him to be a peripheral, midfield workhorse over a 20-goal plus forward.

Rooney encountered serious criticism, including from his own fans largely disappointed with his lack of goals — his eight in the league was his lowest total since joining United in 2004 — yet he saved the best for last: A sublime run through the Crystal Palace half which set up Juan Mata’s equaliser in the FA Cup final.

He will stay at United and will likely surpass Sir Bobby Charlton’s club goalscoring record, which he currently trails by just five. Rooney also said that he doesn’t want to play for another Premier League club and even wants to extend his existing contract, though that’s up to United.

And it will depend on how he performs under Mourinho. If it’s anything like the way he did under Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, for whom he was one of the few bright spots in a poor season, he’ll be alright. Rooney thinks he has a lot of football left in him, but admits his style may change.

“All players’ games develop and change over time — look at [Ryan Giggs] towards the end of career compared to the start,” he tells United We Stand. “I will continue to develop my game and adapt and improve throughout.”

As for life after football, Rooney has been pursuing his coaching badges and also tried his hand at television punditry, which he enjoyed. He’s become more sensible on the pitch and off it, because the smallest misdemeanour makes headline news.

Many — possibly too many — people have advised him how to live his life and he has listened, but he’s still the life and soul of the dressing room; the man who sets the tone, who jokes and sings. He even thinks he could sing in the over-25s section of the X Factor!

But none of that is for now, when a perennially underachieving England expects. Fans want goals, great ones if possible.

“The best feeling, without doubt, is scoring a last-minute winner,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if it is an unbelievable volley into the top corner, a side-foot pass into the bottom corner or a scuffed finish.”

Rooney needs to keep reminding everyone what he can do. He’s expected to lead and to be one of the best players for United and England.

“It’s simple with Wayne Rooney,” said his former teammate and coach Phil Neville in 2014. “He wins you league titles. He grabs games by the scruff of the neck and wins them, like [Cristiano] Ronaldo does. He could play in any position for [Man United] and would still be the best player. He’s that good.”

Rooney certainly was one of the best. But is that still the case?