Manchester United return to Premier League action against Chelsea on Saturday in arguably their toughest game of the season so far.

Jose Mourinho's men will be desperate for victory at Stamford Bridge, not only to build confidence following the Newcastle win but to make a statement to their rivals.

Much will depend on whether Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez turn up, with United's two highest-paid players coming under heavy fire recently for their performances and general attitude.

Pogba has been a particular problem for Mourinho after the Frenchman reportedly created a 'rebel group' against United's manager.

Following a training ground bust-up with his £89m signing from 2016, Mourinho warned Pogba that no player is bigger than Manchester United.

"He's a player like the others; no player is bigger than the club and, if I'm happy with his work, he plays," said Mourinho in late-September. "If I'm not happy, he doesn't play.

"The team needs good players, players with personality to play; he has and he plays. Manchester United is bigger than anyone and I have to defend that."

Reports suggest Mourinho has lost the dressing room and now Wayne Rooney has reacted by comparing the situation to his time at United under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"That would never be allowed to happen," said Rooney when asked about players like Pogba acting bigger than the club, per the Mirror.

"The likes of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand myself - players who had United in them and wanted the best for that club - would never allow anyone to mess that up.

"We controlled the dressing room ourselves. Alex Ferguson didn't really need to control that. The players had the trust of the manager to do that themselves."

Rooney also compared the current style of play at United to Sir Alex's and said that, contrary to belief, they're not too dissimilar - Fergie's was just more "devastating".

"People talk about our team - especially in relation to United now - and say it was attack, attack, attack. But we actually weren't," the 32-year-old continued.

"A lot of games we played on the counter attack, drew teams into us and then broke with pace. We did it to Arsenal.

"It wasn't all 'let's just go out and attack', it was a bit more calculated against certain opponents which brought the best out of myself.

Paul Pogba to score during Chelsea vs Man Utd and match to end in a draw (16/1)*

"We had the team built to hit teams on the break and we were devastating at it."

Mourinho's United and Ferguson's United have similarities but are still very much different, and only when control is restored will the club get back on track.

*Odds subject to change