Ex-Liverpool star playing key role as Wayne Rooney tactics draw praise in MLS

28 June 2023 , 08:38

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Christian Benteke impressed for Wayne Rooney's D.C. United versus Cincinnati and garnered praise for his performance. (Image: Jeff Dean/Getty Images)

Former Premier League striker Christian Benteke has been praised for his physicality and presence, with manager Wayne Rooney also coming in for plaudits for his tactical prowess in Major League Soccer.

MLS outfit D.C. United got back to winning ways after two straight defeats with a 3-0 victory over Cincinnati at home, with the former Aston Villa and Liverpool target man having played a significant role. Although it has been a campaign of mixed fortunes for Rooney's outfit, the home win meant that they currently occupy an all-important playoff place.

So far this term, the 45-time Belgium forward has found the back of the net on eight occasions from 19 outings in all, while also providing a focal point as part of the Audi Field club's attack. With eight losses so far this season, the team clearly still has issues to iron out but the performance versus Cincy did catch the eye of his opposition manager.

Although Benteke failed to find the net during the MLS clash, his ability with his back to goal really impressed the Orange and Blues' head coach Pat Noonan, who noted that his hold up play was a key factor in ensuring his team's victory. He pointed out how Benteke played a key role in a tactical setup by Rooney which makes D.C. United extremely difficult to play against.

Noonan said: "You can be strong for 85% of the game against Benteke, but he has the ability to find the moments to bring the ball down.

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"He’s just a real presence in direct play that allows runs in behind or, if they’re moving forward as a group, it becomes second balls. If you’re not successful in those moments, because you’re pressing high up the field, then they’re able to face goal and it just becomes a real challenge.”

The 42-year-old also praised Rooney's defensive organisation, ensuring that they were impossible to break down on the night. The former Manchester United man has got his team playing to their strengths with their size and strength from set pieces.

Wayne Rooney was appointed manager of DC United in July 2022 (Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

Noonan said: "Their size along the backline is a strength. Those guys typically eat up everything in the air and they’re dangerous on set pieces. They defended the box really well.

"Anything that was in the air they typically eat up, and even the balls where we were looking to arrive late with some of our midfielders, or even our forwards coming off of the center backs, they ate up those spaces as well with [Chris] Durkin and [Lewis] O’Brien. They just defended the box in a really strong way. It’s a strength of their group.”

Rooney's club was able to inflict just the second defeat of Cincinnati's season so far, with the Ohio team currently riding high at the top of the Eastern Conference with 42 points. They are still seven points ahead of nearest challengers New England Revolution in the standings.

Tom Beattie