Wayne Rooney: Man United legend opens up on toughest night in football
· Yahoo Sports
Two Manchester United captains and two of the most important players in the club’s recent past sat down together earlier in the week for an interview released yesterday.
Wayne Rooney, now working for the BBC, enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford from 2004 to 2017. The Englishman scored 253 goals for the club and is the all-time leading goalscorer in the club’s history.
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He sat down with Manchester United’s current club captain, Bruno Fernandes, who is enjoying an incredible season, as he tops the Premier League assist tables with an impressive 18.
Were he to create three more goals in United’s five remaining matches, he would break Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s record of 20 in a single league season.
In a wide-ranging interview, Fernandes went into detail on his rejection of a move to Saudi Arabia last summer and the influence of interim manager Michael Carrick.
Fernandes also touched on his memories of Rooney as a player in the interview with the BBC.
Rooney memories
Fernandes actually played against Rooney when Manchester United took on Derby County at Pride Park in March 2020 in the FA Cup. The Red Devils ran out 3-0 winners, but Fernandes remembers the night for another reason.
Fernandes managed to get Rooney’s shirt after the match and said, “I asked Juan (Mata) to get it for me. I tried to bring it but it is already in Portugal to go in my museum. It’s a Derby one, not a United one, but still.”
Rooney also commented on the goal he almost scored at the end of the match. Commenting on the moment, Rooney said, “I was really frustrated because it was a very difficult game for us and we got the free-kick at the end. I hit it really well and (Sergio) Romero’s pulled off a worldie save.”
Portugal vs England
Rooney then reflected on England’s exit to Portugal in both Euro 2004 and his red card in the World Cup quarter-finals in 2006.
The United legend reflected, “two of my worst nights of football.”
Their conversation then moved on to this summer’s World Cup and Fernandes claimed, “wrapping up all this last World Cup with Cristiano winning it would be something amazing. I really hope we can make it happen, not just for Portugal, but for everything Cristiano gave to football and the world.”
Rooney also added that whilst obviously he wants England to win it, “I would love to see you and Cristiano win the World Cup. Go and enjoy it. Have fun. And I hope you do well.”Featured image Ryan Pierse via Getty Images
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