Burton Mail

No excuse for not giving all, says Rooney

- By STEVE NICHOLSON stephen.nicholson@reachplc.com Sponsored by:

DERBY County manager Wayne Rooney has offered an insight into how he motivates his players to keep going despite the off-field issues this season has brought.

The Rams have taken four points against the two Championsh­ip front runners since returning from the last internatio­nal break.

Sunday’s comeback 3-2 win over Bournemout­h showed their ability to break through the toughest defence in the division, while Wednesday’s stalemate at Fulham showed the other side of their game, to blunt the league’s free scorers.

Reflecting on those results and the environmen­t off-the-field they have been achieved in, Rooney revealed he remains relentless in sticking to the non-negotiable­s he places on the players.

“This team has to represent me. I put big demands on those players and I don’t care if they’re 16 or if they’re 39, I put big demands on them to work and fight. There’s no excuse for not working hard,” he told the BBC’S Football Daily podcast.

“If you win the game, great. If you don’t, what you don’t want is me, first of all, being on you but the fans being on you for not working. That’s something I can truly say, these players give everything, every game.

“I think it’d be a miracle if we do it (stay up) this season, but we’ll keep pushing and give it a go.”

Age is not a factor for Rooney in his team selections, illustrate­d most recently by the breakthrou­gh of Liam Thompson into the first team.

The 20-year-old midfielder played the full 90 minutes in both matches last week and is the latest academy graduate to make the jump this season, in part due to the squad sanctions.

“What it does is it tests you as a person, as a character. It tests myself and my staff to develop some of

Football is a game which you should enjoy because it’s what we all did when we were kids.

Wayne Rooney

these players.

“I’ve lost track of how many debuts I’ve given to young players!

“Watching them develop on a daily basis when they come and train with us and then earn the chance to play because we need them because, where our squad is, we need some of those young players to come in and be ready.

“It’s a big challenge but I think myself and the staff are dealing well with it.

“I tell them just enjoy it! Football is a game which you should enjoy because it’s what we all did when we

were kids, we all wanted to be profession­al football players, and when you’re a kid you go out on the street, you play your Sunday game or whatever, for enjoyment.

“So what changes? You get paid for doing the job you love, so if enjoy it, you’ll perform better.”

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 ?? ?? Derby County showed their willingnes­s to battle hard in the goalless draw away to Fulham in midweek.
Derby County showed their willingnes­s to battle hard in the goalless draw away to Fulham in midweek.

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