Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has admitted he completed a “very important” achievement at Old Trafford without the help of Sir Alex Ferguson’s influence.
Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League strikers of all time and enjoyed a prolific playing career at Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson brought Wayne Rooney to Old Trafford in 2004 after United splashed out a deal worth up to £27m to sign him from Everton in 2004.
Rooney, who was axed from Birmingham City last month, lifted five Premier Leagues, a Champions League, a Europa League, three League Cups and an FA Cup at United.
The 38-year-old former United and England striker continued his career at Old Trafford even after legendary ex-manager Ferguson bowed out of the club in 2013.
Rooney played under former United managers David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho at the Premier League club before his exit from Old Trafford in 2017.
Rooney on ‘very important’ Man Utd milestone
Wayne Rooney appeared as a pundit for BBC during Manchester United’s FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Wednesday evening.
Speaking ahead of kick-off, Rooney talked up the significance of the FA Cup and recalled his own experience of lifting the trophy during his time at United.
The United legend was promoted to the club captaincy under Louis van Gaal and was skipper when he lifted the FA Cup for the first and only time in his career.
Rooney, who opened up about his relationship with Van Gaal, produced a Man of the Match display in United’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final in 2016.
When asked about winning the FA Cup with United, he said on BBC: “Very important.
“I used to love the FA Cup growing up, watching it, and then we lost the final against Arsenal and against Chelsea and then to win it as captain was the only time I won it, but it was such a special night.”
Rooney talks Man Utd and FA Cup campaign
United could face the winner of Liverpool vs Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals if they beat Nottingham Forest in the fifth round.
Erik ten Hag’s men came within touching distance of the FA Cup last season, only to fall short to crosstown rivals Manchester City in the final at Wembley.
The 54-year-old United boss’ last real chance to lift silverware this season lies with his side’s FA Cup campaign this season.
Rooney believes that a top-four Premier League finish is “difficult” for United, but he added that Ten Hag’s side must push forward in their FA Cup challenge.
“I think this is the last opportunity to obviously win something this year,” he said on BBC.
“Champions League is gonna be difficult for them to make, I think, this season, so to go on to win the FA Cup – the last time we won it was 2016 – so it’s a huge game for them tonight and obviously a great draw for them to look forward to if they go through.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/szx4VSo