Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney admits this
season is his worst ever.
Rooney helped United go four points clear at the top of the
Premier League table on Saturday as they romped to a 4-0 success at
Wigan.
The 25-year-old scored at the DW Stadium, but it was only his
seventh goal of the season, which he admits has been a
struggle.
The England forward, who was also accused of elbowing Wigan's
James McCarthy during the game on Saturday, came into this season
following a desperately disappointing World Cup campaign.
Then in October he handed in a transfer request at Old Trafford
before retracting that and signing a new long-term deal.
And he admits he has never had such a tough time since making
his breakthrough as a 16-year-old with Everton.
"I have to say it's been a difficult season for me - probably
the worst I've ever had," he told the News of the
World.
"That week when I asked for a transfer was something I wouldn't
want to go through ever again, but I feel I made the right decision
to stay because this club is always going to be challenging for
trophies.
"I picked up a few niggles as well and missed a few games, so I
didn't really feel like I was playing a part.
"The good thing is that I feel fresh at a time when most players
are picking up injuries or feeling jaded.
"I really want to kick on from here and have a big impact on the
most important matches of the season."
Rooney in the last few weeks has showed glimpses of getting back
to his best, including a brilliant over-head kick which won the
Manchester derby against City earlier in the month.
"The goal against City gave me a big lift because it was in such
an important game. I've seen it again quite a few times and I'll
never get sick of it," he added.
"We're happy with the position we have put ourselves in - and we
know it could have been even better
"This is usually the time of year when we really go for it. We
want the title back. It was hard losing it to Chelsea as we
did."
Rooney travel with United to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday - a
match being shown live on Sky Sports - as they face
Chelsea in a crucial Premier League clash, and he admits the West
London ground is not his favourite hunting ground.
"We've got a really terrible record at Stamford Bridge - in
fact, I don't think I have ever won there in my entire career," he
said.
"I've got some pretty bad memories about the place, like the
time when I fell down and broke my metatarsal just before the 2006
World Cup.
"But you get these things in football and there's no way to
explain them.
"It won't play on our minds. If anything, it will make us even
more determined to go there and win.
"It's a really massive game and Chelsea need to win it more than
we do. Hopefully the pressure will tell on them.
"I am a bit surprised to see them so far behind us in the league
but I would never write them off completely.
"They have shown down the years they are a team capable of going
on a long run of winning games.
"We can make it really hard for them by beating them but they
will be thinking the same thing about us because it will have a big
say on where the title goes."
The win at Wigan put United four-points clear and Rooney admits
they are in good shape.
He said: "It has been a season where we have had to stick
together as a team and grind out results, even when we haven't been
playing well.
"To be honest, sometimes you get just as much satisfaction
winning that way as you do when you play entertaining football.
"I think it shows how strong we are as a team. It all stems from
the manager but the pressure is always there to win trophies.
"We don't care how we do it as long as it's us lifting them at
the end of the season."