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Originally Posted by cam_wmh
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BBC's Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty echoed this on Wednesday. One might suggests that this could end up being more a significant issue than the controversial red card.
Ferguson will be there to conduct it but is there a deeper sub-plot to Rooney's exclusion? An understandable debate quickly began as to whether this was the beginning of the end for him at Old Trafford.
It was not so long ago that the idea of leaving Rooney out of United's biggest game of the season, arguably their biggest since the 2011 Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley, would have been unthinkable. The notion would have been laughed out of town.
Not any more. Not when he cannot get in the team to face Real Madrid at Old Trafford. The mantle of United's most significant striker has already passed to Robin van Persie - on Tuesday Rooney could not even make the team alongside him. It is not an indignity he usually has to suffer and not one that will sit easily with him
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21679869