Jose Mourinho: Wayne Rooney unhappy because of David Moyes' comments

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (R) believes David Moyes (L) is to blame for Rooney’s dissatisfaction at Manchester United

Jose Mourinho has said that Rooney’s dissatisfaction with life at Old Trafford is David Moyes’ fault, for suggesting that the Englishman will play second fiddle to Robin van Persie this season, say the Guardian in this report.

Chelsea are still keen on the 27-year-old, even amidst reports suggesting that they are close to agreeing a deal to sign striker Samuel Eto’o from Anzhi Makhachkala.

Manchester United play against Chelsea on Monday (26th August) and the Red Devils will not appreciate Mourinho’s latest attempt to undermine Moyes and unsettle the former Everton striker.

Rooney fell out with Sir Alex Ferguson towards the end of last season and handed in a tranfer request that United rejected. Rooney told the media he was “angry and confused” following Moyes’ comments in pre-season that suggested Rooney would have to accept a role as squad player behind Robin van Persie in the pecking order. Rooney has yet to hand in another transfer request, though.

When Mourinho was asked how he would handle the fiery reception he would receive form the Old Trafford faithful, he quipped:

“They are against me? But I didn’t say [to Rooney] you will be a second-choice for me. And they are against me?

“We are trying to get a player that a manager told ‘You will be a second option’ for him. We are not going for Van Persie. They don’t have to be against me. If I say Ramires is a second option for me and he plays when Lampard is tired or injured, if someone comes here to get Ramires, nobody is upset.”

Mourinho was asked if David Moyes was to blame and bluntly proclaimed, “of course [he has to take blame for the situation].”

Mourinho then realised he may have appeared overcritical and backtracked on his comments, saying that it was natural in a big club to have established first choice players.

“In every big team, I am not criticising, you have first options and second options, and those second options must be very good players,” he said. “Of course big teams must have second choices. Big players too. The point is if the players are happy to accept that situation.”

Mourinho said in the build up to the match that he will not make another bid for Rooney before the two sides meet and Chelsea are aware that Manchester United are against selling Rooney to a rival but will test their resolve with an improved bid.

Chelsea are making alternate arrangements if the move for Rooney falls through. The London club completed the signing of Brazlian Willian Borges da Silva from Anzhi yesterday and are looking at the option of bringing in his former Anzhi team-mate Samuel Eto’o on a one-year deal. They will have to act fast though, as Eto’o’s agent is reportedly in Milan, looking to get his client a better deal at Internazionale.

Mourinho has made no attempt to hide that signing Wayne Rooney is his priority in the transfer window, and said of Rooney being on the bench when Real Madrid visited Manchester United in the Champions League last season:

“It means they have a fantastic squad. Fantastic. I was playing against them last year. He [Rooney] was on the bench and he [Ferguson] was playing Van Persie, [Danny] Welbeck, [Shinji] Kagawa. The squad is amazing. So it is natural that some players have to be second-choice.”