Ryan Giggs has expressed his sympathy for Wayne Rooney, who he believes has been “confused” by Jose Mourinho.
Rooney was dropped by England for the first since 2003 for the 0-0 draw against Slovenia, after disappointing in a midfield role.
Yet Giggs, speaking on ITV, says that it is the mixed messages Rooney has received that has caused his poor form.
“I see a player who’s going through a transitional period,” Giggs said.
“I went through it when I was 29 or 30, where I was a winger and I couldn’t knock it around a defender and get it the other side.
“I feel a little bit sorry for him, towards last season and for England in the summer he was played in that deeper role, then he was told he’s playing as a No 9 or a No 10 [by Mourinho], so he’s probably a bit confused.
“The only way he can get it back is on the training pitch.
“I don’t see him playing in a specific position, he’s got the talent to play so many positions, and the experience.”
Well that explains the last few weeks. Now what about the two years before that?
From what Giggs said on Rooney, it reflects unfavourably on them more than it does Mourinho #mufc https://t.co/DOAfAPPCUw
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) October 12, 2016