Manchester United drama: Mkhitaryan at odds with Rooney and Mourinho
Henrikh Mkhitaryan wants to be Manchester United’s number 10
It’s taken all of one Premier League defeat to cause significant drama at Manchester United. New signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan is upset with captain Wayne Rooney and manager Jose Mourinho because he believes he should be installed as the club’s first choice number 10.
The Sun reports that the Armenian attacker is upset with being played by Mourinho as a winger. He believes this to be the main reason he was so ineffective against Manchester City this weekend. As you’ll recall, Mkhitaryan was hauled off after one half of football by Mourinho due to his poor play.
While it’s fair to question Mkhitaryan’s right to complain so early in his tenure at the club, it’s hard to argue with his logic. He was sensational for Dortmund last season playing behind the striker. He racked up 11 goals and 15 assists for the Bundesliga giants.
The only trouble with his logic is that Rooney has played pretty well as United’s number 10 this year. He’s scored a goal and contributed two assists in just four Premier League appearances. His Whoscored.com player rating average of 7.30 illustrates how effective he’s been in the key position.
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As long as Rooney plays at that sort of level, it’s going to be extremely difficult to move him out of the starting XI. Even a manager as ruthless as Mourinho knows the sort of loyalty United fans have for Wayne Rooney. He’s meant everything to the club for over a decade. Sending him to the bench while he’s playing well could be career suicide for The Special One.
That means Mkhitaryan is going to be on the outside looking in (literally) for the foreseeable future. His only way into his ideal spot on the pitch is if Rooney slips up and doesn’t perform. The English captain will hit a lull at some point this season, and that’s when Mkhitaryan will need to pounce.
Until then, it’s important that Mkhitaryan plays well enough to receive regular playing time. Even if he’s pushed out on the wing, it’s better than getting splinters on the bench at Old Trafford. He needs to play well out wide to build a case that he’s the right man to take over for Rooney in the middle when he inevitably falters.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has a right to want to play as United’s number 10, but it’s a position he needs to earn. Whining about playing out on the wing isn’t going to allow him to take over for a club legend.
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