The last time the New York Red Bulls squared off against D.C. United, recently acquired forward Wayne Rooney did not start the game, but instead came on as a sub in the 57th minute of the 1-0 victory for New York.
Since then, Wayne Rooney has played the full 90 in four of the last five games, with the only exception being against the Portland Timbers, in which he played 86 minutes.
With Rooney now being featured more for D.C., and the team playing much better since his arrival, the Red Bulls understand that the club they faced in late July isn't the same club they'll be facing come Sunday night.
"I mean he makes their team better to say the least and you’ve seen that in the last couple of weeks that now he’s able to play that full 90 and get them going a little bit more," Tyler Adams said. They’ve been playing well, so for us even the limited amount of time that he came in when we played in DC, you know, he had a good chance there and, you know, obviously, it scuffed up a little bit and he wasn’t able to finish it but we respect him obviously and he’s a good player so we don’t want to give him any time and space."
D.C. United has not lost a match in it's last five contests (4-0-1), and during that time Rooney has three goals and two assists, which according to Danny Royer isn't surprising to see why D.C. has been playing so well of late.
“I think they look more comfortable," Royer said. "Of course, he’s a great player [Wayne Rooney], I think he can keep the ball, he’s a smart guy, he’s a strong guy, good battling so I think when he keeps the ball it gives the wingers and their No. 10 more time and space to find space when he keeps the ball during this time, so to open up the spaces and to find dangerous spots. But also, he’s a great passer as well, and I think that’s one point sometimes people don’t mention. I think he’s not giving away a lot of balls, he’s not losing a lot of balls, he’s actually a great passer and can set up plays really well.”
The Red Bulls, who return to Red Bull Arena after three straight road matches, will now look to secure three points, and one of the keys will be keeping an eye on Rooney and finding a way to neutralize him.
"He adds a unique dynamic," Tyler Adams said. "I think that for him dropping back into the midfield is something he’s always been good at and being able to want passes either out wide or forward and it’s kind of pushed [Kellyn] Acosta a lot higher and he’s able to have that freedom now to just link up with Rooney wherever he is on the field so it’ll be important to keep track of those guys wherever they go."
