While the summer transfer window is now closed, players can still leave and join teams abroad up until the 31st. So let’s take a spin through the latest Manchester United news, notes and transfer rumors items making the rounds on the internet right now.
-Defender Marcos Rojo didn’t make the match day squad for the season opening win over Leicester City. He also missed the entire preseason tour due to what manager Jose Mourinho described as a fitness issue.
It’s clear that he’s just not part of the plan going forward, so it might be best for all involved if he finds a new home where he could see more playing time. The Mirror cites reports in Turkey that suggest Fenerbahce are close to acquiring him.
-If you’re wondering why Anthony Martial didn’t feature in the season opening win versus Leicester City, Jose Mourinho gave the following explanation to reporters:
“I want to make tactical changes but I can’t make them because I’m afraid of how the players will react to minutes.
“I wanted to play Martial in a certain minute, in a certain moment I felt that he was perfect to stretch the game and to get them in the counter, but I was afraid to play him because I knew that Paul couldn’t resist for 90 and Fred would be in trouble.”
Mourinho elaborated even more in an interview with Sky Sports.
“A match where I needed six changes not three. Not enough for me. I wanted to play Martial for Mata or Alexis but I can’t,” he said.
“I know that Paul doesn’t resist for 90, the same with Fred. I need more changes but I couldn’t. So it was not easy to manage the game by the touchline point of view. ‘In the second half I have Andreas Pereira and Fred both with a yellow card.”
“Paul, he was fantastic his contribution was amazing, but the fuel was disappearing every minute so we were in trouble and I needed Fellaini and McTominay to give me that balance in midfield, but at the same time I felt I wanted more in attack, I felt that Martial coming into the game last 20 minutes for Mata or Alexis it could bring us a second goal, but I couldn’t make that change so it was really hard.”
-Last and certainly not least, Wayne Rooney WOW! What an amazing, out of this world sequence here. First, the heart, grit and determination to chase down an opponent, make the perfect tackle and save a sure game winning from reaching the empty net!
Then comes an astounding long , diagonal ball to Acosta for the game winning goal, which gives D.C. United a triumph over Orlando City! Watch this incredible sequence; and then watch it a couple more times.
https://twitter.com/DevilsOfUnited/status/1028842675653496832
It’s safe to say that Rooney still has it!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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