Jose Mourinho: 'Wayne Rooney should be used as an attacking player'

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that he sees Wayne Rooney as an attacking player rather than a central midfielder.

Debate has raged over which position Rooney would be best suited to recently, with the captain being used in a deeper role by England despite being his country's record goalscorer.

However, Mourinho talked down the possibility of using him as a midfielder and believes that the 31-year-old is paying for his own success following the criticism of his form in recent months.

"[There is] a bit of a doubt in relation to his role, to his position, to his future and I think players especially in moments of less confidence, they need to be clear in his head. He cannot be jumping from No 6 to No 9, or No 9 to No 10, or No 9 to No 6. For me, he is an attacking player. What is an attacking player for me? For him, a 9 or 10," he told Sky Sports News.

"Play No 6, play in midfield, not with me unless we need it and unless we ask him to do that, but with me, I want the ideas completely clear. He is a second striker, plays behind the striker or as a striker. That's what I think is Wayne Rooney. I think he's paying for his success. He had so many successes in his career.

"He brought his expectation levels to such a level that people probably think he has to perform in every match, every week, every month, every season at the same level. For me, that's a problem. I think in this country it happens to everyone, it is just your nature, you build people, you kill people, you build again and you destroy again! And I think it is just the nature of the business, especially in football."

Rooney has started just one of United's last six matches in all competitions.