Soccer

Louis van Gaal drops Wayne Rooney for Stoke tie

The United captain has scored just twice this season

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney will start the game aginst Stoke on the bench Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney will start the game aginst Stoke on the bench Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters
Sat Dec 26 2015 - 12:30

Louis van Gaal has dropped captain Wayne Rooney for Manchester United’s crunch game at Stoke.

United manager Van Gaal is under pressure after failing to win any of his last six matches.

Speculation has been rife all week that Van Gaal will be sacked if he does not start winning matches.

And the Dutchman took the controversial decision to drop Rooney from his starting XI for the game at Stoke on St. Stephen’s Day.

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The United skipper, who has scored just two Premier League goals so far this season, was named on the bench for the encounter at the Britannia Stadium.

France striker Anthony Martial led the line for United instead.