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Juan Mata says United teammate Wayne Rooney deserves respect

Reuters

In the face of scrutiny over a mercurial start to the Premier League campaign, Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata asserts that club captain Wayne Rooney deserves respect rather than criticism.

Come Friday, the two will be enemies, as England face Spain in an international friendly in Alicante. But before and after the whistle, Mata has nothing but praise for the 30-year-old striker.

"When we speak about Wayne we're speaking about the captain of England and my team Manchester United," the midfielder said. "He's a very important player."

With just two league goals this season, Rooney has been a topic of derision among supporters and pundits alike, with calls for United boss Louis van Gaal to drop the out-of-form English international to start blockbuster summer signing Anthony Martial up top.

Out of form or not, the diminutive midfield maestro Mata knows that United will go as Rooney goes.

"He's scored more goals than anyone in the English national team and at United," the former twice-consecutive player of the year at Chelsea told ESPN FC.

"I know he can play in different positions. At the end it's Roy Hodgson or Louis van Gaal who decides, but obviously if he's close to the box he will score more."

A man of many hats, Rooney's position Friday will be on the bench, as the England gaffer Hodgson has said he will not use the Liverpool-born attacker against Spain.

Even in his absence, Mata says the Three Lions are a side to fear.

"They have youth, desire to win, and the capacity to achieve something important - you only need to look at their qualifying campaign in which they won every game.

"Tomorrow's match will be a tough test for us and for them to see what level they're at. I believe that England are one of our direct rivals for Euro 2016."

Rooney will be pleased to hear Mata's sentiments. With the Spanish international being the Red Devils' best playmaker and central midfielder, it can't hurt to be on good terms with the man responsible for the service that accounts for many of Rooney's exploits.

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