Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has somewhat blamed Jose Mourinho for Wayne Rooney’s dismal performance this season. Giggs said that Mourinho has “confused” the England international. The former Wales international claimed that Mourinho’s move of using Rooney in the front role has played a vital role in the player’s poor start to the season.

Rooney was dropped by Mourinho from the United starting lineup after a poor performance in team’s 3-1 defeat to Watford and came off the bench in the wins over Leicester City as well as the Europa League clash with Zorya Luhansk.

Mourinho later hinted that Rooney can remain on the sidelines for a long time by saying that Marcus Rashford’s speed up front is ideal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Rooney’s misery was compounded when he was dropped from England starting lineup too after a poor outing in the team’s 0-0 draw in Slovenia.

But Giggs backed his former teammate to play again for the club and the country. Citing his own example, Giggs said that Rooney can be effective in the midfield. Well, a few days ago Rooney also made the same claim when he said that he can excel in the midfield since he has lost some of his pace.

The 42-year-old told ITV: “I see a player who’s going through a transitional period, I went through it when I was 29 or 30, where I was a winger and I couldn’t knock it around a defender and get it the other side.

“I feel a little bit sorry for him, towards last season and for England in the summer he was played in that deeper role, then he was told he’s playing as a No 9 or a No 10 [by Mourinho], he’s probably a bit confused.”

Rooney was booed at Wembley Stadium on Saturday but Giggs doesn’t think Rooney’s career at the top is over.

Giggs added: “The only way he can get it back is on the training pitch.

“I don’t see him playing in a specific position, he’s got the talent to play so many positions and the experience.”