Mourinho Criticises FA For Handling Of Rooney Situation

Jose Mourinho believes the FA should have "taken care of" Wayne Rooney and has defended the Manchester United striker for his behaviour on international duty.

Rooney missed Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Spain due to a minor knee complaint and he was pictured at 5am on the previous Sunday drinking with guests at a wedding at the team's hotel.

The 31-year-old apologised "unreservedly" for what he called "inappropriate" images, taken 24 hours after England's 3-0 win over Scotland at Wembley.

Mourinho, whose United side take on Arsenal on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1, says last weekend "didn't go well" for Rooney and indicated his annoyance at what has panned out.

"I don't speak, I don't speak," Mourinho said when asked if the forward had been let down by the people around him.

"The only thing I say is that the player goes to the national team, he belongs to the national team.

"I learned since I was a kid, if somebody lends me something, I have to take care even better than if it was mine. Since the school, you know?

"Your friend lent you a pencil, you have to take care of the pencil better than if it is your pencil, so I think when one day if I become a national team manager I will try [to].

"I am not saying that I will be successful on that, and I am not being critic with Gary [England interim manager Gareth Southgate] and with anyone.

"I get the occasion to wish Gary the best of luck publicly, but I think you have to build something to protect what is not yours, what someone lends you."

Asked if Rooney should have been at the hotel bar until the early hours, Mourinho retorted: "I would have a great answer for you - I don't want to have [one] because, again, I don't want to speak about it.

"But if you go one by one to see where these 23 players were, some of them were in worse places than the hotel bar."

Credit: Skysports.com