Man Utd 0 Everton 0: Wayne Rooney is the toast of Old Trafford in testimonial but Jose Mourinho’s men fail to fire

WAYNE ROONEY was the toast of Old Trafford this evening but could not help Manchester United beat former side Everton in his highly-awaited testimonial.

Long-serving skipper Rooney led the line alongside new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a packed-out Theatre of Dreams, but the experienced hitmen both failed to carve open the Toffees’ defence despite some good possession in the first half.

Romelu Lukaku provided Everton’s biggest threat throughout the game and should have done better when he jumped to send a free header wide of the goal.

But despite it being Rooney’s night, Jose Mourinho was still treating the fixture as a pre-season warm-up, and the captain was taken off to a standing ovation for young whizkid Marcus Rashford with over half an hour to play.

The Special One has already admitted United’s preparations for the new season have been far from ideal following their botched tour of China.

And with the Community Shield final against Leicester approaching this weekend, Mourinho will be looking to get his side clicking quickly.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• This was Wayne Rooney’s night so Jose Mourinho made a low-key entrance on his Old Trafford bow. Mourinho was in the home dug-out for the first time but slipped in almost un-noticed.
• The ‘Special One’ was soon patrolling his technical area and found time to stroll along and shake hands with Everton boss Ronald Koeman – a 1-0 winner here on each of his visits with Southampton.
• The fans had also come to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his first Old Trafford appearance in a United shirt. And the man who has promised to be the ‘God of Old Trafford’ certainly looked at home.
• Ibrahimovic and Rooney showed signs of an early understanding as they made constant efforts to pass to each other in a show of mutual respect.
• One of their link-ups almost led to a first goal for Ibrahimovic but the summer signing from Paris St-Germain saw his shot saved by Maarten Stekelenburg.

• Another Rooney assist led to a sublime first touch from Ibrahimovic but again the super Swede was denied by the former Fulham keeper – the only new Everton player on show.
• Sir Alex Ferguson has buried the hatchet with Rooney after their fall-out before Fergie’s retirement and the former United boss was here to watch, alongside failed successor David Moyes and new England boss Sam Allardyce.
• Moyes may have had an ulterior motive and the Sunderland boss got a chance to see possible transfer target Marouane Fellaini as he was one of six United substitutes at the break.
• Rooney was given seven minutes of the second half before leaving to a standing ovation to be replaced by Marcus Rashford. Memories of when Rooney was a teenage sensation – in an Everton shirt.
• Romelu Lukaku and John Stones may not have many matches left in an Everton shirt and neither pulled up any trees, although Lukaku was an aerial threat.
• With millions of pounds going to charity this was a special night for one of United’s iconic players. But as a meaningful work-out ahead of the new season it was little more than a few more miles in the legs as Old Trafford witnessed another 0-0 draw. Roll on the real thing.

Man United’s next five games:

(N) Leicester – 7 Aug (Community Shield)

(A) Bournemouth – 14 Aug (Prem)

(H) Southampton – 19 Aug (Prem)

(A) Hull – 27 Aug (Prem)

(H) Man City – 10 Sep (Prem)

Everton’s next five games:

(H) Tottenham – 13 Aug (Prem)

(A) West Brom – 20 Aug (Prem)

(H) Stoke – 27 Aug (Prem)

(A) Sunderland – 12 Sep (Prem)

(H) Middlesbrough – 17 Sep (Prem)

WHAT SOCIAL SAYS

WHAT THEY SAID

Man Utd captain Wayne Rooney: “I’d like to thank everyone for coming to the game tonight. The money we raised will go to a lot of children in desperate need so you should all be proud of yourselves.

“I’d like to thank Everton for the support they’ve shown, the Everton fans for coming along today, you’ve been fantastic so thank you to them and Everton.

“And I’d just like to say to the United fans, I’ve spent 12 years here, I’ve had great success and hopefully there’s a lot more to come so thank you for your support.

“You’ve been fantastic so thanks again and here’s to 12 more years.”