sWAYNE ROONEY is set to make his first Premier League start for over a month today with Jose Mourinho insisting neither he nor his captain is going anywhere.
Mourinho denies reports he is unhappy living in the city and has told Manchester United's longest-serving player he can leave if he is dissatisfied at being benched.
He insists Wayne Rooney, who could replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Burnley today, remains a big part of his plans despite turning 31 this week.
"It's not true at all - he is going nowhere," said Mourinho. "He's 31 now but I know he can play at the top level.
"What's going to happen at 32, 33, 34, 35 - I can't make this mental exercise. What I can say is that he's a very good player and a very important player for us.
I know he's the type of player I need. He's my captain, he is the team captain and he behaves like that.
"There are no problems at all. We like him, he likes us. I know he's not happy because he was on the bench but every player is unhappy if he doesn't play. That's exactly what I want."
Rooney's last League start was in United's 3-1 defeat at Watford on September 18 but he is likely to replace Ibrahimovic, who has looked in need of a rest in recent games.
Mourninho is also fuming that his comments about living in a hotel in Manchester were interpreted in some quarters as a signal he was preparing for an early exit from Old Trafford if he failed to turn round the team's fortunes.
"You say my life is a disaster," he said. "You write lies about me. I got this club in a hard situation - but it's a great job.
"At this club you must say you are going to win something and at this moment we still have four competitions to win. Let's see out of the four what we win - four, three, two, one or nothing."
He insists Wayne Rooney, who could replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Burnley today, remains a big part of his plans despite turning 31 this week.
"It's not true at all - he is going nowhere," said Mourinho. "He's 31 now but I know he can play at the top level.
"What's going to happen at 32, 33, 34, 35 - I can't make this mental exercise. What I can say is that he's a very good player and a very important player for us.
I know he's the type of player I need. He's my captain, he is the team captain and he behaves like that.
"There are no problems at all. We like him, he likes us. I know he's not happy because he was on the bench but every player is unhappy if he doesn't play. That's exactly what I want."
Rooney's last League start was in United's 3-1 defeat at Watford on September 18 but he is likely to replace Ibrahimovic, who has looked in need of a rest in recent games.
Mourninho is also fuming that his comments about living in a hotel in Manchester were interpreted in some quarters as a signal he was preparing for an early exit from Old Trafford if he failed to turn round the team's fortunes.
"You say my life is a disaster," he said. "You write lies about me. I got this club in a hard situation - but it's a great job.
"At this club you must say you are going to win something and at this moment we still have four competitions to win. Let's see out of the four what we win - four, three, two, one or nothing."
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