Perhaps it was politeness, maybe mind games, possibly a judgement call that was based on the past rather than the present. But when Sergio Aguero piped up this week to suggest Radamel Falcao is Manchester United’s most predatory striker, it rather flew in the face of the facts. It ignored the evidence.
Forget the crisp, clinical Falcao of bygone times. The modern-day Colombian has scored fewer goals in his entire United career than Wayne Rooney has managed in his last six games. The Merseysider has won his individual battle. Seemingly third in line when Falcao partnered Robin van Persie in attack and he was relegated to the midfield, he has cemented his status as United’s finest centre-forward.
It could be the first time since the Dutchman’s 2012 arrival that he can say that. The idea that United had three top strikers has been disproved by evidence of decline. Rooney’s personal peak came in 2009-10, Van Persie’s between 2011 and 2013 and Falcao’s, arguably, in the same two-year spell.
None is the player he was, but Rooney is the best of the bunch. When his career was at a crossroads, his season has turned into an unlikely triumph.
Falcao’s arrival prompted questions if Rooney even featured in the first-choice team. The silly sending off against West Ham made many wonder if he was the right man to captain United. An extended spell in midfield invited thoughts that his striking days may have been consigned to the past.
Go back a couple of months and Rooney had to illicitly procure a late penalty against League One Preston to record a first shot on target in 2015. When Van Gaal said his captain had “privileges”, it made it sound as though Rooney was in the team on favouritism, not merit.
