Rooney is happy to bear the burden as Rams fight to finish
BOSS SAYS PLAYERS ARE GIVING IT THEIR ALL TO GET DERBY OUT OF MESS
WAYNE Rooney’s first taste of management following an exceptional playing career at the highest level sees Manchester United and England’s record scorer embroiled in a relegation battle.
Rooney took sole charge of Derby County in November following the departure by mutual agreement of manager Phillip Cocu. In the 18 League games that followed, Rooney oversaw nine wins and four draws for a points’ tally of 31 from 54. Derby climbed off the bottom of the Championship to 16th.
They were looking up rather than behind them at that stage but fortunes have changed dramatically.
Only one win in their last 13 matches and five consecutive defeats has left the Rams scrambling to secure their Championship status for next season.
Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday, both currently in the drop zone, are breathing down Derby’s neck.
Flak is flying and falling on Rooney, his coaching staff and the players. Some fans are calling for Rooney to be replaced even at this late stage of the campaign with only two games remaining away at Swansea and at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
Rooney is fully aware of the responsibility on his shoulders as the jaws of League One are snapping.
“It’s a big club, a big responsibility, and that’s something which I am more than capable of doing. I’m more than capable of taking that responsibility,” he said.
“My job now is to make sure the team are ready for Saturday (v Swansea). There are two massive games coming up for us, starting Saturday. We need to look forward to that game, not back at the previous games.
“There’s only been one game where I’ve questioned the players in terms of attitude, so I know the players are working, I know the players are fighting, I know the players are putting the effort in to try and help this club get out of the mess we are in.”
Derby missed another opportunity to ease relegation worries when they lost 2-1 to Birmingham City at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday after leading at the break through Colin Kazim-richards’ eighth goal of the season.
Fortunately for Derby, Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday also lost.
Rooney cut a frustrated figure after the game.
“I felt it was a chance for us to be, in terms of where we are at, in a very good position had we won the game,” he said.
“They (Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday) have lost, and we have lost, but on the other hand it still gives us a chance. As I said a couple of games ago, the games are whittling out and as they are other teams have to pick up points. They are under pressure to pick up those points but we can’t keep relying on other teams.”
This has been, and continues to be a tough baptism in management for Rooney. How is he handling it?
“Of course it’s always in your head, you always are thinking of what you can do to improve, to improve the team, how you can set up tactically, what team you are going to play. It’s a 24 hour a day job. That’s what my focus is on,” he said.
“I’m calm, I’m a calm person. I know we are in a fight. We have been in a fight for the majority of the season.
“We are in a position where we can still stay in this league. So I have to be a leader for the players.
“The players are obviously low on confidence. I have to lift them.”
Asked if he takes the pressure of the job home with him and is he sleeping, Rooney replied: “I sleep fine other than some nights when I have two, three, sometimes four kids jumping on me. Other than that, I sleep ok.
“Listen, I know this job. I know what it takes in terms of time wise.
“I know I sacrifice a lot of time away from my family. If I weren’t prepared to do that, then I wouldn’t be sat here.”