Rooney made a public apology on Wednesday after images were published of the striker looking worse for wear at the team hotel after last week’s victory over Scotland at Wembley.
“The only thing I say is the player goes to the national team, he belongs to the national team - I learned since I was a kid, if someone lends me something I have to take care of it even better than if it was mine,” Mourinho told British media.
“You know - your friend lent you a pencil, you have to take care of the pencil better than if it was your pencil. So I think when one day if I become a national manager, I will try.”
Several other Premier League managers have leapt to Rooney’s defence, including Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp, who felt there had been an over-reaction to the episode.
“I am not saying I will be successful and I am not being critic with Gary (caretaker manager Gareth Southgate) or anyone,” Mourinho added.
“I get the occasion to wish Gary the best of luck but I think you have to build something to protect what is not yours, what someone lends you.”
United, sixth in the league, host fourth-placed Arsenal on Saturday.
(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru)
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