Skip to main content

Martinez out to extend winning run in Rooney's absence


Martinez out to extend winning run in Rooney's absence
Potential Absentee Against Everton Wayne Rooney
Everton manager Roberto Martinez is a keen admirer of Wayne Rooney but hopes he falls short in his bid to be fit for Manchester United's visit on Saturday.

Rooney missed England's final two Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania after receiving a knock to the ankle in United's Premier League defeat to Arsenal at the start of the month.

The United and England skipper remains doubtful for this weekend's trip to his former club as United seek to arrest a poor run of form at Goodison Park.

Everton have won the last three meetings between the sides on home soil without conceding a goal and Martinez's hopes of maintaining that record have been bolstered by the likely return to action of defender John Stones.

No new injuries have surfaced for Martinez following the international break, although Leighton Baines remains around two weeks away following an ankle problem.

When asked about Rooney's below-par return of one Premier League goal this season, Martinez told reporters: "His contribution is a bit more than scoring goals.

"If you want my thoughts, I would prefer it if Wayne Rooney doesn't play. From an opposition point of view, I think Manchester United are a better team when Wayne Rooney plays.

"He brings a lot more to his performance that just hitting the back of the net."

Louis van Gaal's United went into the international break off the back of a 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, as a vibrant first-half display from Arsenal saw them score all three goals inside the opening 20 minutes.

Morgan Schneiderlin will hope to regain a starting place in midfield, with Bastian Schweinsteiger having hurt his thigh while away with Germany.

United were dismantled 3-0 at Goodison in April as Van Gaal was handed a reminder of the size of his rebuilding task, but Martinez is not paying much attention to previous meetings.

"I think records and previous results mean very little - what's important is that we respect immensely this Manchester United side," he added.

"A couple of weeks ago when they went top of the league, that was a real statement of intent. Manchester United have a settled side now and have become really strong in what they do."
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ronaldo And Messi Stats Shows Who's Best Of All Time

Bests of all time Victory in football's biggest tournament would play a huge role for either player's legacy, particularly in the long-term, and it looks incredibly likely that the 2018 edition will be the final attempt for both men. As a result, there was always going to keen interest in exactly how Ronaldo and Messi fare. And, well, three games in and their form is diametrically opposed. Ronaldo is in the running for the Golden Boot after scoring four goals in his opening two fixtures, including a stunning hat-trick against a hotly fancied Spain team. MESSI VS RONALDO DEBATE Meanwhile, Messi just found the back of the net in Russia only in his last outing vs Nigeria and missed a vital penalty in the 1-1 draw with Iceland. These developments led to a spike in support for Ronaldo to be considered the greatest of all time, with this summer exemplifying his brilliant form over the last few years. BALAGUE HAS SOME ANSWERS One of the most interesting tweets, t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vardy: It Was Easy To Reject Arenal Move

    Jamie Vardy says it was easy for him to reject a move to Arsenal, insisting both his head and his heart told him to stay at Leicester City. After playing a crucial role in last season's surprising Premier League title win, the England international was the subject of a bid from the Gunners which triggered his £22 million release clause. Instead, the striker opted to remain at the King Power Stadium and signed a new deal with the Foxes. And Vardy, 29, says it was an easy decision to make. “I was in a hotel room [in Chantilly] for so many hours of every day with nothing to do. You had a lot of time on your hands," he told The Guardian . “I am not going to beat around the bush – every time I thought about it, and every aspect of it I thought about, both my head and my heart were saying to stay at Leicester, which is why I made my decision to stay. “There were loads of reasons. You get that much time to think about, every single thing down to the tea lady. You think about w...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Have Been Sacked Six Times By The Media - Louis Van Gaal

  Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has refused to discuss his future amid growing reports he will leave the club and be replaced by Jose Mourinho. When asked whether the FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace would be his final match in charge, he told a press conference: "I show you the cup. I don't discuss it with my friends in the media who already sack me for six months. "I do not want to talk about leaving." Source: Goal
Post a Comment
Read more