“The main question should be why are Rashford and Lingard in,” Jose Mourinho suggested in response to questions as to why Wayne Rooney has been dropped from the starting eleven. Two young English players in, amidst Mourinho’s claims that Ibrahimovic is the number one striker. The real story though is Rooney’s absence. 

He’s had a poor start to the season and is not the player he was, but his withdrawal from the line up at such a late stage has the potential to completely destabilise the team. Leicester will be licking their lips whilst the game seems more and more to have moved past Mourinho. Are his self-harm tactics detrimental to the squad he owns? 

More to follow…