Louis van Gaal hasn’t been hesitant to express his opinion on matters since taking over Manchester United – on Tuesday morning alone he said Luke Shaw wasn’t fit enough and that the squad he inherited from David Moyes is “broken”, and he has said they shouldn’t even be in America for their pre-season tour.
But there is one subject he has been rather less forthcoming about: the captaincy at Old Trafford, which is expected to be awarded to either Robin van Persie or Wayne Rooney. I, however, do have a strong opinion on this.
I think it has to go to someone who commands respect on and off the pitch. I find it very strange that one of the players seems to be going around and telling everyone that he wants the captaincy. The key is to be awarded with such an honour, not to go around making your pitch for it and force it.
I want to see a player get it because he genuinely deserves it and commands widespread respect. It doesn’t have to be the best player in the team but someone you can rely on, on and off the pitch. That’s why Wayne Rooney doesn’t fulfil the criteria. He doesn’t tick all the boxes.
For Rooney, you wonder if getting the armband is just another bit of prestige for the CV, rather than because he loves Manchester United.
We are told in the press that he would be devastated not to get the armband but this is a guy who has asked to leave Manchester United twice and leveraged new contracts on both occasions. He hasn’t got any loyalty to the club. United felt compelled to give him such a huge contract last time as they had so much at stake in terms of status.
You want a captain who won’t cause any trouble and will held bind the squad together, and I don’t think Wayne Rooney is that man. He is a fantastic player for United but not a captain, not for me. He doesn’t deserve it.
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