Rooney told to prepare for a Duel
MIKKEL DUELUND has a framed Wayne Rooney shirt on the wall at his home – but would love nothing more than to embarrass his hero in the Europa League.
Life- long Manchester United fan Duelund is set to face the team he supports, in midfi eld for Danish champions Midtjylland, in tomorrow’s round of 32 fi rst leg.
The 18- year- old only broke into his club’s fi rst team last season but is now looking forward with great excitement to the biggest game of his life.
That means trying to stop England captain Rooney, a player he idolised throughout his childhood. “I have been a United supporter since I was a little boy, you know with posters and scarves on the wall in my room,” said Duelund.
“My cousin played with the Denmark youth national team against Wayne Rooney and got his shirt for me after the game. So I’ve had Rooney’s shirt on my wall for many years – and now I will face him in an important game.
“That’s a crazy thought as a fan but as a player I don’t think about it.” Duelund, though, has had plenty of time to think about facing United since the draw for the fi rst knockout round was made in December.
He said: “After the draw, I phoned my father and told him, ‘ Dad, you know how I have always dreamed of visiting Old Trafford as a fan? Well, now I’ll go as a player’.”
Midtjylland, third in their domestic league, won the title for the fi rst time in their history last season.
Louis van Gaal and his players have reason to be wary of a side who knocked Southampton out of the Europa League at the play- off stage in August.
Duelund said: “There is no doubt in my mind that we can match United like we did when we knocked out Southampton – if we do everything perfectly.
“My ultimate dream in football would be to play for Manchester United but here and now my biggest ambition is to knock out the team I love.”
United have made Nicky Butt the new head of their academy. And the former England midfi elder – a graduate of the youth set- up at Old Trafford and a member of their Class of ’ 92 – has been confi rmed in the role vacated by former United striker Brian McClair last summer.
Butt said: “We want another Giggs, Neville or Scholes, these one- club guys who play here for many years and contribute to the club. That’s what our aim is.”
DERBY are in discussions with Manchester United regarding the cost of repairs after a large number of seats were damaged by visiting supporters during the FA Cup clash between the two clubs at the iPro Stadium last month.
United brought 5,460 fans to Derby for the fourth- round tie on January 29, with the damage discovered the next day.
A Rams spokesman said: “I can confi rm there was damage caused to seats in the away section and that we are liaising with Manchester United.”