Sunday 16 October 2016 14:01, UK
Dropped England captain Wayne Rooney will receive "the respect he deserves" back at Manchester United, according to Jose Mourinho.
Rooney, 30, returned to club duty this week after an international break during which he was booed by fans at Wembley in the victory over Malta three days before interim England boss Gareth Southgate left the player out of his XI in Slovenia.
But whether Rooney starts against Liverpool on Monday Night Football, Mourinho insists the forward can rely on the backing of the Old Trafford faithful.
"He was not booed by Man United fans," Mourinho said. "To be honest, the last match when he went to the warm-up, I was feeling Old Trafford was behind him and immediately supporting him during the warm-up before he came on against Stoke.
"I think at Man United he feels at home, at Man United he feels the respect he deserves. Not at Anfield, obviously, but he knows that here he is respected."
Mourinho is also assured of a frosty welcome at Anfield after the rivalry his old club Chelsea shared with Liverpool during his time in west London, but he admits he relishes these rivalries.
"For me, to play Liverpool is to play against a big club," he said.
"In Madrid I wanted to play against Barcelona, against Atletico, against Valencia.
"In Inter, I wanted to play against Milan, against Juventus, against Roma. In Chelsea, I wanted to play against Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal, all the big clubs in the country.
"Now in Man United, it's the same. I love to play against the big opponents and Liverpool is a big opponent."
