Phil Jones was in line to be Manchester United's penalty taker on the opening day of the 2014-15 season as a result of an unconventional policy from boss Louis van Gaal, Wayne Rooney has revealed.
United captain Rooney said he was dropped to fifth in the pecking order to take penalties after his miss at Liverpool in March, before Robin van Persie's failure from 12 yards against West Bromwich Albion sent him back up to fourth.
And Rooney added that after he missed in a preseason friendly against Valencia, and first-choice penalty taker Javier Hernandez was removed at half-time in the opening-day defeat to Swansea, Jones, who has never scored a penalty in his first-team career, became United's nominated spot-kick taker.
"At the Swansea game, first game of the season, I had missed against Valencia so we had Chicharito [at] number one, Phil Jones number two," Rooney told Sky Sports. "So it got to half-time, Hernandez went off and Phil Jones came up to me and said: 'If we get a pen, I can't take it.'
"So the manager, in fairness, says if you're going to practice it make sure you have the bottle to take it in a game -- so a few defenders have dropped out of practicing."
Jones also had a spell as United's corner taker this season, in another of Van Gaal's unexpected decisions.
Rooney explained the Dutchman's theory about penalty takers, adding: "He said he has a structure where if you miss one you're at the back of the queue. So I was like, 'alright.'
"I got two penalties on the tour in the U.S., one against LA Galaxy and one against Roma, and I've never felt that pressure in a preseason game, to be honest."
Juan Mata, who scored from 12 yards in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, is now United's penalty taker after Van Persie lost his place at the front of the queue.
"In the game Robin missed his, it was Robin first, Juan Mata second, [then] Ander Herrera, [and] Ashley Young," Rooney said. "Because Robin missed [against West Brom], Robin will be at five now."