Late heartbreak but Rooney says he couldn’t fault Rams in draw
INTERIM BOSS CONFIDENT RAMS CAN TURN CORNER
INTERIM manager Wayne Rooney was full of praise for the efforts of the Derby County players in the 1-1 draw against Coventry City.
Rooney has been in sole charge of the team for the last two games, against Coventry and Wycombe Wanderers, a match that also finished 1-1.
Colin Kazim-Richards put the Rams ahead against the Sky Blues in the 83rd minute on Tuesday night but the visitors equalised in added time through Gustavo Hamer.
“I said to the players they can all sit in the dressing room with their heads held high,” said Rooney.
“If we perform like that in the next few games and in the next few weeks, we will start winning games and start moving up the table.
“It is not easy when you are at the bottom because every game you don’t win, you run the risk of falling even further behind, I know that.
“I feel for the group of players. There has been big change in recent weeks and for them to keep working, keep digging in and keep trying to take some new information in. The effort they have put in has been incredible.”
Looking back at the Coventry game, Rooney added: “I couldn’t fault one of them (the players), I thought the effort they gave was brilliant, they kept going.
“We knew we might score late, we said at half-time to be patient and the goal will come. The players did what I asked, which is great, but then we conceded the goal and it feels like doom and gloom.
“But it is important for the players to realise the performance was a lot better than it has been. We have to take the positives.”
The Rams remain bottom of the Championship and now face successive away games in London.
They travel to take on Millwall at The Den on Saturday and then tackle Brentford on Wednesday.
A takeover of the club remains imminent and then a new Rams permanent manager will be confirmed. So who will be in charge of the team for the upcoming matches?
“I don’t know, I’ll still be here!” Rooney smiled.
“I honestly don’t know. I am confident in this job and in this role. Of course I would love to do the job, if not, I will be here as a player.
“We have to plan as if that is the case.
“If that is not to be then the players have that stability of knowing the plans for the next few weeks and have something to work to.
“The quicker the new ownership is done, the better, because I think a decision does need to be made, the quicker the better.
“It (the takeover) is close, it is really close, and the minute that is done the better for everyone at the football club.”
Asked if he had been told whether or not results will effect if he lands the job or not, Rooney said: “No. I haven’t been told I need to do this or that.
“The important thing is not what happens with me in the next week or few weeks, it’s about the players in the dressing room who I feel were fantastic.
“I have to prepare them and get them ready for Saturday, so I have to solely focus on that for the time being.”