Mourinho says Moyes to blame for Rooney row
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, August 27, 2013
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says his Manchester United counterpart David Moyes should shoulder the blame for Wayne Rooney's desire to leave Old Trafford after suggesting he was a second-choice striker.
The clubs were meeting in the English Premier League later yesterday, with Chelsea's pursuit of the unsettled forward adding spice to the early-season clash.
Chelsea has made two bids for the England international and has not ruled out making a third, with Rooney reportedly upset by comments Moyes made in preseason that he would have to play second fiddle to Dutch striker Robin van Persie.
"They are against me?" Mourinho was reported as saying by The Guardian newspaper yesterday, when asked whether he would get an angry reaction from the United crowd.
"But I didn't say (to Rooney) you will be a second-choice for me. And they are against me?
"We are trying to get a player that a manager told ‘You will be a second option' for him. We are not going for van Persie.
"They don't have to be against me. If I say Ramires is a second option for me and he plays when (Frank) Lampard is tired or injured, if someone comes here to get Ramires, nobody is upset."
He was then asked if Moyes should take the blame, to which he replied: "Of course."
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