Rooney says Alexander-Arnold ‘cannot defend’ and slams England squad ‘mistake’
Wayne Rooney has stuck the boot into Trent Alexander-Arnold – and insisted he doesn’t have the discipline to play in England‘s midfield.
The Liverpool star is expected to be named alongside Declan Rice in England’s starting XI for their opening Euros clash against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen this weekend. But England legend Rooney insists he is incapable of defending – and would leave Gareth Southgate‘s side too exposed.
The Manchester United legend said: “I think he’ll (Southgate) go with Trent. I think he’s probably the most gifted player with the ball at his feet we’ve got.
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“Defensively, he’s all over the place. He can’t defend. I wouldn’t have him anywhere near the middle of the pitch. And I love Trent.”
Rooney added that he would play the Liverpool vice-captain on the right of midfield, because “on the ball, stuff he can do, no one else can do it”, but “100%” if England were to play France in a big knockout tie, Southgate would not play him in the middle of the park.
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(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
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Rooney compared the current England squad to the one chosen for Euro 2004, which the former Manchester United striker was involved in at the age of just 18. And he fears there might not be enough older heads in Southgate’s team to help them go deep into the tournament in Germany.
Rooney said: “On the backline, there’s not many caps between the players. I had it when I first signed for Manchester United, you get to finals and ends of tournaments, we’re looking at the lads that have been there and won trophies.
“They keep you calm and get you through it. That’s my worry for England.
“I think they’ll breeze through the group stages, but when they come up against good teams that are going to be a real threat to them, I think that lack of experience might harm us.
(Image: PA)
“In 2004, I was probably the only one (inexperienced player). There are so many players now. I could go to any player in the squad and get advice off them or guidance on certain things.
“Where now you’ve got Guehi, you’ve got Konsa, Mainoo, Wharton… the amount of players that have barely played, Cole Palmer, Eze.
“So many players and what will happen naturally is they will probably stick together and then when it starts getting tough, they’ll be talking, going, ‘what do we do?'”
(Image: Getty Images)
Rooney also thinks Southgate has made a mistake when it comes to leaving Jack Grealish at home.
He added: “I would have taken him instead of (Jarrod) Bowen, for a bit more balance. And he brings something a bit different as well.
“There’s no substitute for players who win trophies. I think it’s so important.
“There’s not many in the England squad that have done that. The Manchester City lads have been doing that regularly over the last few years.
“I just think there’s a real lack of experience in the squad, that’s my worry.”
