Man Utd V Southampton at Wembley Stadium : Match Preview

25 February 2017 20:34
Man Utd V Southampton - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Jose Mourinho pondering Wayne Rooney start in EFL Cup final

Boss Jose Mourinho is weighing up whether to start Wayne Rooney in the EFL Cup final after the Manchester United ended speculation about his immediate future.

Talk had been growing over the 31-year-old making an Old Trafford exit, with his agent Paul Stretford understood to have been in China this week speaking to interested clubs.

However, Rooney put to bed speculation regarding his future for the rest of the campaign on Thursday, confirming he was staying at Old Trafford in a statement released to Press Association Sport.

Mourinho was pleased by the content and timing of the statement from Rooney, who will be in the squad for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Southampton despite a recent hamstring injury and dropping down the pecking order.

United's all-time top scorer may even start at Wembley after in-form Henrikh Mkhitaryan sustained a hamstring issue of his own.

"I have to make a decision," Mourinho said. "You know that we normally play two different systems - sometimes we play with two midfield players and a number 10 if you want to call it (that).

"Sometimes we play with a number six and two midfield players in front.

"Without Mkhitaryan, if we want to play with a number 10, obviously Wayne, it's his position, it's where he was playing with us many matches, so he is an option for me.

"A final is a special match and he is an option for me."

Asked if sentiment comes into his team selection, Mourinho said: "It's the best 11 players. We win all together, it doesn't matter if you don't play much. I go for the best possible team."

Michael Carrick is available to the United boss and Phil Jones could return from a foot injury.

Saints boss Claude Puel has backed his patched-up defence to deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Saints are without key defender Virgil van Dijk so instead teenager Jack Stephens, who is almost half Ibrahimovic's age, is set to be handed the job of shackling United's superstar striker.



But Puel, who came up against former Paris St Germain player Ibrahimovic while managing Lille in France, insists the in-form Swede holds no surprises for his side.



"I know Ibrahimovic very well from the French Premier League so I cannot be surprised by him," said Puel.



"In France he was a fantastic player but all the people say 'Okay, it is the French Premier League and not the English one'.



"But he has come here, he is 35 and he can do a fantastic job, fantastic work. He is clinical, very efficient and also he gives a good authority to the team. He is a character player.



"He is very self-confident - he plays with this. He is a strong man and a strong partner. At Paris St Germain he gave a good atmosphere around the team and gave his team fantastic confidence.



"He doesn't run a lot but always with a good run, with good play, good gestures. It is fantastic to see him.



"We'll see if Jack starts this game. But for me of course I'm confident with the player, with the squad. I saw at our training camp in Spain very good concentration, very good spirit, quality in the training sessions.



"There was big attention from Jack and all these young players. They stay calm and just focus about what they can have to do.



"All the players can play in my team against Ibrahimovic. They know him now. We will give a good answer."

Martin Caceres, a recent free agent capture, and Sofiane Boufal (ankle) are hoping to be included in the squad.






Source: PAR