Wayne Rooney opens up on Manchester United future: He fears this

Posted Thursday, May 11, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Wayne Rooney opens up on Manchester United future: He fears this
Wayne Rooney wants to remain at Manchester United

WAYNE ROONEY is desperate to stay at Manchester United but fears he may have to quit Old Trafford this summer to play regular first team football.

The Manchester United and England captain said it has been difficult to adapt to not being regular starter under Jose Mourinho but insists he "hasn't thrown his toys out of the pram" in protest.

He says his ideal scenario is to see out the year left on his contract – and possibly take up the option for another season after that – but he admits he wants to play more, having started only 22 of the 59 games United have played in all competitions so far this season.

Asked about his future ahead of tonight's Europa League semi-final second leg against Celta Vigo, Rooney, 31, refused to look further than the end of the season.

"My focus is on trying to help us win this competition and that's my sole focus," he said. "It's a massive opportunity for us to reach and win a European final. Would I like to stay? I've been at this club 13 years but I want to play football. Do I want to do it here? Of course.

"Of course you want to play. You want to play every game. I think football changes. You have different challenges in your career.

"This season I haven't played as much as I would have liked to. I've tried to help the team on and off the pitch. I haven't thrown my toys out of the pram but I'm a football player and I want to play football. The more I play, the better I feel I can help the team.

"Sometimes that's football. I've had to keep working and try to take my chance. That's what I've done. When called upon I'll try my best to help the team."

Rooney is likely to be on the bench tonight as United defend a 1-0 first leg lead in what could be his last appearance in a European game at Old Trafford – 13 years after his stunning debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce in a Champions League game in September 2004.

If he does leave in the summer he wants to have helped United back into Europe's top club competition by winning the Europa League.

And despite becoming a bit part player under Mourinho, he is convinced they are on the right track under the former Chelsea boss.

"It's important to be back in the Champions League," he said. "This club belongs there. Realistically, it's going to be difficult to do it through the league. We have to concentrate on winning the trophy.

"This club will be successful under Jose Mourinho, having seen the way he works. If we can win the Europa League, that will be three trophies in his first season. We're not far off challenging for the Premier League and I hope next season in the Champions League. But I feel the club will be successful under Jose."