Wayne Rooney has revealed that John Terry is the toughest defender he’s faced in his career, citing his physicality and ability to read the game.
Rooney is entering his 12th year at Old Trafford off the back of a disappointing Euro 2016 campaign with England, but this season already looks very promising under new boss Jose Mourinho. The club have been active in the transfer window to improve on last term, while the captain’s own position in the team has been clarified.
Rooney spent much of the second half of last season in a deeper midfield role under Louis van Gaal, tasked with dictating the tempo of games through his range of passing, but Mourinho has made it clear that his skipper will be deployed in his favoured attacking position in the final third.
With that in mind, the 30-year-old could come up against Terry once more this term, as the Chelsea stalwart has prolonged his stay at the club under new boss Antonio Conte.
Rooney has been reflecting on his career with the new season just over a week away now, and named the 35-year-old the best defender he’s ever faced.
“The best defender is probably John Terry, he reads the game well, he is physical and very tough to play against,” the Red Devils skipper told his official website in a special Q&A.
Terry had a tough season last term, as Chelsea really struggled in the opening months under Mourinho. He averaged six defensive actions-per-game and won 59% of his average duels in 24 Premier League appearances, with an average pass accuracy of 90%.
The Blues finished the campaign 10th on 50 points, 16 adrift of the top four and 31 behind champions Leicester City, subsequently missing out on European football. Meanwhile United ended the season fifth on 66 points, level with Manchester City in fourth but with an inferior goal difference.
Mourinho’s men begin this term with the Community Shield clash against Leicester at Wembley, before travelling to Bournemouth for their opening Premier League fixture a week later. They face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in late October, as the Portuguese makes his first appearance in west London since getting sacked back in December.
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