Jose Explains Squad Absentees

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has explained his decision to leave five first-team regulars at home for Thursday night’s Europa League Group A opener at Feyenoord.

Full-backs Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw have both remained at the Aon Training Complex, as well as Academy graduate Jesse Lingard and summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Wayne Rooney has also been omitted from the 20-man squad that flew to the Netherlands on Wednesday afternoon.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference inside De Kuip, Mourinho pointed to the strength of his squad and the players who need a game this season. He began by explaining why his captain has not travelled.

"He has played every game since the start of the season," the manager told reporters. "He has also played 90 minutes for the England team. He played 90 minutes last weekend and I want him to be fresh for the next Premier League match. In the position he plays, I have lots of solutions and people [so] it has been really hard to have a chance."

Asked how Rooney received the news, Mourinho was reluctant to focus solely on the experienced striker. "Well, I think it is better to tell the players they are not coming but we are only talking about Wayne Rooney. Also, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw did not travel with the team. They are positions where I have other solutions, fresh players for this game and fresh players for the game next Sunday. 

"We play on Thursday here, then we go back and play at 12 o'clock on Sunday [at Watford]. I'll try to have a strong team here, a strong team for Sunday and give rest to some players. Wayne took it professionally, like the other players."

Thursday's match in the Netherlands will coincidentally mark the one-year anniversary of Shaw breaking his leg during a Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven. However, Mourinho rejected a suggestion that this was the reason why Shaw has stayed at home in Manchester at the Aon Training Complex. 

"No, I didn't know that," Jose told one journalist at his press conference. "The decision was not made thinking about that negative episode. The reason is simple - Marcos Rojo is a very good player who is working really well, working hard. My option in the last four games in the Premier League was Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke and I think it is time for Marcos to play, so it was a simple decision."