Wayne Rooney has admitted he was wrong to mouth '12 men'
to a TV camera in the aftermath of Manchester United's
controversial defeat to Chelsea on Sunday. Rooney also pledged his
future to United and claimed he must win the World Cup with England
to become a true great of the game, ahead of England's friendly
with Brazil.
United felt hard done by for both Martin Atkinson's award of the
free kick against Darren Fletcher that led
to Chelsea's goal, and apparent interference by
Didier Drogba as John Terry's header
floated inside the far post. As Rooney left the pitch, he implied
down the lens of a TV camera that the referee had been on Chelsea's
side.
"I probably should not have said it,'' he said. "I was
disappointed at the end of the game and felt we deserved more out
of it. Your emotions are high at the end. I felt we didn't get the
decisions but that is the way it goes. It was probably our best
performance of the season but it was a disappointing result."
Rooney dashed the hopes of Barcelona and any other suitors by
pledging his future to Manchester United, revealing he expects to
open talks over a contract extension at some point over the next
few months.
The Catalan giants are thought to be interested in adding Rooney
to their impressive attacking arsenal while old team-mate
Cristiano Ronaldo has issued a cheeky "come and join
us'' plea from Real Madrid. Ronaldo admitted Rooney had the perfect
home at Old Trafford and it's a view Rooney concurs with.
Holding court in Doha, ahead of England's glamour friendly with
Brazil, Rooney revealed his hopes for the future. And they all
revolve around United.
"It is nice to be noticed but I have said before, I am really
happy at United,'' he said. "Unless they tell me otherwise, I can't
see myself leaving. I have got two years left on my contract after
this year and I am sure we will be negotiating a new deal in the
next few months. I love the place. It is 30 minutes from home and
all my family, and I have got a great chance of winning
trophies.''
Meanwhile, Rooney claimed he must win the World Cup to join the
the true greats of the game - and played down the status of his
former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo given he hasn't made that
achievement.
"There are players like George Best and (Cristiano) Ronaldo who
are geniuses,'' he said. "But if you want to be compared to players
like Romario and Ronaldo and be up there with them, I feel you have
to win a World Cup.
"Ronaldo was one of the best, if not the best, forward ever.
When he was at Barcelona, the things he did were incredible. In
later years, Ronaldinho and Kaka were both world player of the
year. For me to be considered among that group of players, I must
win the World Cup with England.''
Rooney is very much like Ronaldo in the way he goes about his
task and the strength he can use to bulldoze opposition defenders
away from the ball. But Rooney feels Joe Cole is much closer
than he is to the style of a Brazilian player.
"Obviously, I am happy when people say I play like a Brazilian
because I love the way Brazilians play, but there are other players
in the England team who are a lot more skilful than me; Joe Cole,
for example,'' he said.
"I know Ronaldo was powerful, strong and tough but he was also
skilful as well. The time he went clean through, did four stepovers
and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, that was one of the best
goals I have ever seen. I never really try skills but when you see
Joe Cole, he is more skilful than me.''