
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho may not start Wayne Rooney in the Europa League on Thursday, saying he wants to ''protect'' his captain from another media backlash if he has a poor performance. Rooney, who was dropped for United's last Premier League game, returned to training on Wednesday after missing a practice session on Tuesday because of a slight back problem. Mourinho wanted to start Rooney against Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk at Old Trafford, but isn't so sure now after the striker's injury-hit build-up to the match.
More...