When Wayne Rooney announced his combined Arsenal and Real Madrid starting lineup for their Champions League quarterfinal second leg, it created a commotion. Declan Rice and Mikel Merino’s stunning goals will give the Gunners a 3-0 lead at the Santiago Bernabeu, giving the reigning European champions a challenge that only four other clubs have ever accomplished in the history of the Champions League.
At the Emirates, Los Blancos were outplayed and outfought, especially in the second half, which turned into a lopsided match. Even so, Rooney’s combined starting lineup could only accommodate three Arsenal players.
Declan Rice is part of Rooney’s combined XI.
Only three players from Arsenal made the squad, including Rice.
Rice, fresh off two spectacular free kicks that gave his club the lead, was one of three players from the Premier League powerhouses to gain a spot in the squad. Rooney was given the choice between an Arsenal and Real Madrid star in every position in the social media video. Before unexpectedly selecting attacker-by-trade Lucas Vazquez at right-back over Jurrien Timber, Rooney selected Thibaut Courtois in goal over David Raya.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was the final North London player selected at left-back, while Antonio Rudiger, who got into a brawl with Jude Bellingham on the training field after the loss at the Emirates, was chosen in the centre of defence with William Saliba. The aforementioned Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, who was given two yellow cards in the first leg and will be suspended for the second, joined Rice in midfield.
Despite being essential to last week’s victory, starboy Bukayo Saka has no place in Madrid’s lineup, which is completed by Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Kylian Mbappe.
Fans React to Rooney’s Combined XI
Some of Rooney’s choices left fans stunned
It goes without saying that several of Rooney’s decisions angered fans, who expressed their disapproval on social media. A supporter posted “Not putting in Saka over Rodrygo has got to be one of the worst takes I’ve seen,” but another wrote: “I disagree with Vazquez over Timber, Camavinga over Partey, Rodrygo over Saka.”
“Yet one wonders why he has failed at every club he coached,” said a third, while a fourth asserted that “Wayne Rooney’s managerial record shows 46 wins, 44 draws, and 87 losses in 177 games as a manager.” These statements implied that Rooney’s selections provided insight into his managerial troubles.
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