Wayne Rooney does not have to worry about losing his role as Manchester United captain, manager Jose Mourinho says.
Rooney was not included in Mourinho's starting XI last week, coming off the bench in the win over Leicester City as well as the Europa League clash with Zorya Luhansk.
But Mourinho backed Rooney for his influence on the rest of the players in the team and said the captaincy has never been in doubt.
"Wayne is the captain, no matter what," Mourinho told several English newspapers. "It doesn't matter whether he is on or off the pitch."
"He is my captain and the captain of the club and the captain of the players. And that is difficult, to be the captain of everyone. So he has all the respect and all the support. He is a Manchester United man, he is a great professional and wants to win and of course he was happy when we scored. He is speaking to the players and motivates people. He does exactly in the dressing room the same as he did a couple of weeks ago when he was starting matches," he said.
"He is our man. He will score goals for us and he will work hard for us, I have no doubts about it."
Rooney is also set to retain his captaincy of the England squad under interim coach Gareth Southgate, who took over following Sam Allardyce's sacking this week.
