Sir Alex Ferguson is not prone to stating the obvious but said today what many already know: Wayne Rooney must play in a central position. However, instead of recognising that his tactics often marginalised the young Scouser last season, Ferguson has blamed Rooney for drifting out of position!
“The boy’s got a real hunger and drive about him. He has so much energy that sometimes he overdoes it in the sense that he wants to use it all; he’ll drop into midfield or he’ll go outside left,” Ferguson told Inside United magazine.
“But he’s young, and young players tend to sometimes be that way – they want to spend all their energy on the pitch.
“But if he concentrates like he did at Wigan and spends more time in the central areas rather than the wide positions then he will get goals. There’s no doubt about that.”
Ferguson spent much of last season arguing Rooney is more dangerous coming into central areas from the left. Many, not least Rooney, will be grateful that Sir Alex has seen the light.