Wayne Rooney was asked to play on through injury by manager Louis van Gaal in last month’s defeat to Sunderland, according to the Telegraph.
Previous reports had suggested that Rooney himself chose to play on through the pain in the Sunderland match, but it has now emerged that it was Van Gaal that instructed his captain to carry on as his side searched for a winning goal.
The England striker asked to be substituted after about 65 minutes of the game but is said to have accepted Van Gaal’s request to play on out of respect.
United were drawing 1-1 with Sunderland when Rooney asked to substituted, and Van Gaal had just one substitution remaining. Despite asking his captain to continue, the Reds went on to lose the match 2-1.
It is unclear whether Rooney’s injury was aggravated because of his continued involvement in the match, but his absence from the first team has now lasted for almost two months – in which time United have dropped three points in the League and have been knocked out of the Europa League.
His injury has not only been costly for his club teammates but will be disappointing on an individual level for Rooney, who could now miss this summer’s European Championships with England.
Although Rooney is expecting to return in time for United’s match with Crystal Palace on 20th April, he will only have a maximum of seven matches to prove his fitness in club colours before possibly returning to international duty.
Although Rooney is one of United’s most important players and the club captain, it is baffling that Van Gaal asked Rooney to carry on through the pain in this match. The Dutchman regularly stresses the importance of protecting his players’ fitness and often deploys what seem like pre-planned substitutions to ensure his players do not become over worked.
Furthermore, given the lack of striking options in United’s current squad, it is especially strange that Van Gaal would risk injury to Rooney, who is without doubt United’s most senior striker.
