Tonight is not Rooney vs Chelsea, it's Rooney vs himself

Before going to the game tonight, at least one young Manchester United fan will probably stand in front of the mirror, then turn so that he can see the name written on the back of his jersey, most likely with a bewildered look on his face. A couple hours later, Wayne Rooney will probably do the same albeit in the Old Trafford dressing room, before he walks out on the field in front of thousands of fans, hundreds of television cameras and in to the glares of the manager he plays for and the manager who wants him. David Moyes, the new Manchester United manager, has already hinted that the Englishman will play in the tie. His “Wayne is ready” statement means that fitness wise, Rooney is ready. Mentally though — oh that’s a whole new ball game. [caption id=“attachment_1061183” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  In Wayne Rooney’s head, the battle is with himself. Reuters[/caption] Moyes, in fact, would do well to play him today. For one, it’ll be a sign to Rooney that he is still very much a part of United’s first-team plans. And two, he’ll be out to justify Jose Mourinho’s pursuit of him — producing the goods for United in the process. Even if he’s on the bench, expect him to come on at some point. If he doesn’t come on, then the fight is again with himself. To put up a brave face, to make sure he warms up when he’s asked to — irrespective of whether he’ll play, to handle what is expected to be a mixed reception for him and to make sure he keeps his thoughts and expressions to himself when a goal is scored. The fixture list says it is Manchester United vs Chelsea, David Moyes vs Jose Mourinho, the club which wants to keep Rooney vs the club that wants to buy Rooney. But in Rooney’s head, the battle is with himself. There will be voices in there playing him, teasing him and trying to keep him from doing what he does best — play football. Rather than think about all that surrounds the fixture, Rooney needs to look at it from only one point of view, and that is to ensure United win three points at home, to ensure Moyes starts his home reign with a big win and to give 100 percent on the pitch — which also includes celebrating with his teammates and not sulking 80 metres away from them. Rooney in fact, hasn’t been the strongest person when it comes to the mental side of the game. He wrote some stuff in his autobiography soon after the move to United, and Moyes sued him for that. Early in his club and international career, an aggressive Rooney was as much a liability on the pitch as an asset (red cards, particularly one against Portugal at Euro 2004) and this current saga is thanks to a second transfer request from him — the first a flirtation with Manchester City in 2010. They don’t keep quoting ‘sport is 90 per cent mental and 10 per cent physical’ for nothing. Rooney’s problem is he knows he is not longer the heartbeat of the team - Robin van Persie has that honour now. But it’s not about one heart or one brain or one dazzling left foot. Football, even though won with individual moments of brilliance at times, is a team game — where 11 people beat, run, think and sweat together to win. Tonight, it’s not about being a Chelsea target. Tonight, is about being a Manchester United player. Tonight, is about winning that tug-of-war with the part of his brain that is asking him to leave the club. He can leave after this match, but tonight, is about wiping that bewildered look off the face of the Manchester United fan who’s wearing his £60 jersey.