Rooney pledges calmer ways
Wayne Rooney has pledged to follow the lead of his Manchester United team-mates by learning to curb his temper and focus on winning titles for club and country this season.
The England striker, set to start tonight’s match against Denmark, turns 20 in November and is aware he will no longer be able to justify any shows of petulance by pointing to his teenage years.
“Moving to a club like Manchester United was always going to benefit me a lot, playing with the players I’m playing with and working with Sir Alex (Ferguson),” said Rooney.
During his first year at Old Trafford, after leaving Everton, Rooney was criticised by teaching chiefs for repeatedly swearing on the pitch, with the argument that he was setting a bad example to youngsters.
“I’ve learnt a lot and I think I’ve matured a lot, both on and off the field. I think I had to move on (from Everton), for myself, and I think it has really benefited me,” Rooney added.
He is increasingly aware of the responsibility on his shoulders from a sporting and disciplinary perspective.
“I’m looking to mature a lot more than I have done in previous seasons,” he said.
“I want to make sure I don’t get booked for dissent. If you look at any match, every player’s doing it. But it gets highlighted a lot more because of who I am.”
He added: “I’m looking to cut out the silly bookings.”
Even though Rooney launched himself onto the international stage in amazing fashion during Euro 2004, there were plenty who felt Ferguson had paid too much for the youngster when he eventually prised him away from Goodison Park following intense competition from Newcastle.
The £27m (€39.6m) fee was partly repaid by 17 goals in his first season at United, and he has no regrets about choosing Old Trafford over Chelsea, despite Jose Mourinho’s team winning the Barclays Premiership title.
“Obviously Chelsea have a lot of money and some players see that as a good opportunity to do whatever, but I chose United because it was the best move for me. I really didn’t fancy going to live in London.
“I wanted to stay close to home (in Liverpool). Once I knew United were interested, there was only one place I was going.”
By next summer, Rooney will hope to have pocketed his first United medals.
Then, assuming Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team have qualified, he will be able to focus on England’s bid for World Cup glory in Germany.
“Hopefully I can go there and have the time of my life,” said Rooney.
