Monday 9 April 2018 12:23, UK
Wayne Rooney was wrong to air his frustrations with Sam Allardyce in public, says Danny Mills.
Allardyce substituted Rooney for Idrissa Gueye after just 57 minutes in Saturday's Merseyside derby, and the former England international looked visibly angry with the manager's decision.
But Allardyce stood firm with his call after the game, and says the move gave Everton more legs and creativity as they improved in the latter stages
Speaking on Premier League Daily, Mills urged Rooney to keep his feelings to himself until he is in the dressing room.
"Nobody is ever happy to be brought off, especially in a derby game," Mills said. "Everton is his boyhood club, it means an awful lot to him so of course he is going to be disappointed.
"If you look at the game, and Sam (Allardyce) said it afterwards, they created two or three really good chances after that and probably should have won the game.
"Allardyce does not make the decision out of spite. He's played him in the first place.
"He's just seen an opportunity to make a change and he will have a reason. Of course the cameras focus on Rooney.
"Sam is right, if he's got an issue he should deal with it in the office."
Meanwhile, former Everton forward Tony Cottee sympathised with the 32-year-old, insisting Rooney had every right to feel aggrieved by his treatment from Allardyce.
He said:" Can I stick up for Rooney? You don't want to see people swear on television, of course, I understand that. What do you want him to do? Do you want him to just walk off and say 'I'm not bothered, it doesn't matter to me'?"
"Or do you want him to come off and show 'I do care, I am upset with being taken off'? Wayne has had a fantastic career, when I've seen him play for Everton this year he's been one of their best players.
"He's still their top scorer and he still creates things. If the issue is, like Sam said, about players' legs then he [Rooney] needs players around him who have legs. He needs to play in a free role, it's exactly the same as Pogba."
