HOW ROONEY FOUGHT BACK...
He kept his head up, did not sulk and dug in to revive his career
HOME team dressing room, Old Trafford, 12.15pm, Saturday 24 September. All eyes are on Wayne Rooney. This is usually the time, before the final words from the manager, that the club captain stands up and issues his rallying call. Only today, for the visit of Premier League champions Leicester, Rooney has been dropped to the bench. The vibe among the other players is uneasy. Will he give a speech or will he leave it to someone else?
‘Wayne stood up, looked everyone in the eye and delivered one of the best pre-match talks I have heard,’ one well-placed source told The Mail on Sunday. ‘That was when we knew he was up for the challenge and wasn’t going to sulk about it.’
Up until a couple of weeks ago it was not looking good for United’s favourite Scouser. His Old Trafford demotion was repeated by Gareth Southgate for England’s trip to Slovenia. And when Rooney was named on the bench for his country the obituaries were being written.
What next? Money in China? America? Fairy-tale ending back at Goodison? Even Ronald Koeman failed to rule out the last one.
However, last week he started the Europa League clash at Fenerbahce and, while United lost that game, his performance was a good one and produced a decent goal.
Last Sunday at the Liberty Stadium, he started his first Premier League match since he was put on the bench for the visit of the Foxes. Yes, Swansea were awful, but Rooney was impressive in a 3-1 victory. And on Friday night he was back in the England side for their win against Scotland.
They are steady steps but would seem to suggest reports of his demise were a little hasty.
Inside United few eyebrows have been raised at Rooney’s mini-renaissance. Club officials have been delighted with the way he responded to his demotion. There have been no issues over attitude, no sulking and no drop-off in training levels. At Carrington, he remains at the heart of changing-room banter.
One source said: ‘He basically got his head down and concentrated on his football. He has been as good as gold.’
Sceptics may think that is because there is a realisation that few others would pay him the reported £250,000 that leaves United’s bank account for his each week.
However, the source at United does not believe that is the case. ‘He is desperate to break Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record here [247 v 249] and Peter Shilton’s [119 v 125] appearance record for England,’ said the source. Rooney also has a key ally in Jose Mourinho, who once tried to bring him to Chelsea. Shortly after his appointment, the manager made a point of meeting the player in London before he headed to the Euros with England. Rooney was left in no uncertain terms that he was Mourinho’s captain, his man and he left feeling 10-feet tall.
Mourinho likes the leadership and experience Rooney can offer on the pitch as well as on the training ground. His thoughts are shared by staff elsewhere at the club. At the charity arm, the Manchester United Foundation, they are grateful for his efforts. Rooney is the one who ensures players fulfil their duties and, perhaps given his own life experiences — his wife Coleen’s sister Rosie died at the age of 14 following a lifelong illness — is keen to offer as much support as he can to the foundation, who organise coaching sessions and visits to unwell and disadvantaged children.
He appears to be part of the furniture. Not that there are no options should he go back to the bench and crave first-team football. China, however, would appear to be a red herring. Those close to Rooney say he is not motivated by money and there seems to be little other incentive to head east
America is an attraction and there would be no shortage of offers. One official at an MLS club explained: ‘We would be delighted to get Wayne into MLS. He is 31 and to get a player with such talent and history at that age would be a massive step forward for the league.’
Should Rooney decide to cross the Atlantic he would face a big pay cut. There is a salary cap, although clubs are allowed to sign a maximum of three designated players who fall outside the current restrictions. Regardless, the current top earner, Kaka, gets £5.64m a year, while Steven Gerrard picks up £4.84m. It is a long way from the £13m Rooney is paid by United.
LA Galaxy would be a likely destination given the probable departures of Robbie Keane and Gerrard. New York City FC could also appeal should Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo call it a day.
Following the shambles at the World Cup in Brazil, Roy Hodgson faced a must-win opening to Euro 2016 qualification in Switzerland. One source close to the England camp said: ‘Everyone pretty much knew that, had we lost, Roy was gone. We won 2-0 and played well.
‘At dinner afterwards, Wayne called one of the press officers over. He wanted them to tell the players what the manager had said to the media after the game, so they were in the picture before they went back to their clubs. It wasn’t a huge thing, but just an example of his mindset.’
It would appear Rooney is one who has an eye on the future — one that does not necessarily appear to be away from Old Trafford.