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Goal.com UK brings to you the first of
several World Interviews to come. A new year has brought this new
feature to our readers, who were asked to pose questions to
Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney.
We received thousands upon thousands of questions, but could pick
just ten to put to the 24-year-old striker, and here's how it
went...
Wayne, who is the toughest defender you have
played against?
(Diemar,
India)
That’s a tough one. I’ve played against so many defenders around
the world it’s difficult to pin-point one player. But if I had to
choose one defender, it would have to be John Terry.
He’s a very physical player and always gives everything for
England. You can concentrate on your game and not worry about the
defence conceding because he always plays well.
Which player in the world would you like to see in
a Manchester United
shirt?
(Hamisi, Kenya)
It’s not for me to say because that’s the manager’s job, to
bring the best players to Manchester United.
But I’ve played with some great players in the past and would
have loved to have played with some legends of the game.
Steven Gerrard is a very good mate of mine and he had trials at
Manchester United as a kid, it would have been great to have had
him at United, but that will never happen because he’s a Liverpool
man through and through. He’s a top-class player.
I’d have loved to have played with Zinedine Zidane. I’ve played
against him and I was just in awe. But playing against him gave me
a lot of confidence because it gave me the belief to say ‘I
can play with the best, and I’m just going to chill out and let my
football do the talking'.
Theo Walcott is so fast; he can go on for ages. He’s the fastest
player I’ve seen. He’s so enthusiastic and got a good eye for
goal.
What did you say to Carlos Tevez when he was about to
take the penalty in the League Cup match vs
Manchester
City?
(Teyco, Argentina)
Put it this way, I didn’t tell him to score.
After the 2006 World Cup, did you and Cristiano Ronaldo
speak about the Portugal match?
Did he say sorry – did you forgive him or did you all carry on as
if nothing had happened?
(Rude, Turkey)
I have no qualms about the red card and the fans didn’t blame me
when we were knocked out. David Beckham had to take a lot of stick
after the 1998 World Cup.
We [Rooney and Ronaldo] spoke shortly over the phone some time
after and when we got back for pre-season training the manager just
got us together, told us some home truths and told us not to look
into and listen to all kinds of rubbish that was published about
us. We shook hands and that was it. He’s a good guy and we’ve
always played well together.
Just a simple question; who is a better player in your
opinion and why: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
(Yoga, Indonesia)
I’ve played with Cristiano and he does everything from score
great goals, great free kicks, crosses, he’s a top notch player and
he’s doing well at Real Madrid.
Messi, the ball just sticks to his feet, he’s very clever and
the main thing is that he’s just passionate about his football and
I love watching him play.
They are different players and have different characters so not
for me to compare really, but put it this way, they would be
welcome at Carrington.
Rooney's faith to United lies in loyalty to Sir Alex
At the 2010 World Cup, do you have any preference on who
will be your partner in attack?
(Marcio, Brazil)
No, that’s for Mr Capello to decide. It’s his job to pick the
team and whoever he picks, I’ll be happy to play with, be that
Emile [Heskey] or Jermaine [Defoe], not for me to say, but the
manager knows what he’s doing and he’ll keep us all guessing, I’m
sure.
If Manchester United
were forced to sell you, which team would you like to join? Could
you ever see yourself playing for another English
team?
(Aless, Sweden)
I’m a Manchester United player unless the manager tells me
otherwise. I live near the training ground, life’s good and I just
want to play for Manchester United because the manager has given me
so much and I want to repay his faith in me.
I’ve channeled my feelings and passion into all the right places
and I’m a man, not the kid everyone saw a few years ago and I owe
it to the manager.
How would you feel if your son said that he would like
to be a Liverpool
fan?
(Manu, Spain)
My family are all Evertonians and I also grew up as an
Evertonian. We all grew up absolutely hating Liverpool and that
will never change. So my son will have plenty of positive
influences around him [laughs].
Wayne, just how good is Dimitar
Berbatov? Do you think he gets too much stick from fans and pundits
for not scoring a lot and do you think his arrival at the club has
helped you?
(Muhammad, England)
Strikers always go through a bad patch and they get criticised
by people who do not see how much effort he is putting in day in
and day out.
Berbatov’s a very technically sound player, he can score, create
opportunities for the guys and gives me a great deal of freedom to
get forward. He does his fair share and our partnership is very
fresh and it’ll get better. He’s just focusing on his game.
Since Ronaldo’s transfer, Sir Alex Ferguson must have
told you to play in a different way than before. What do you think
about the difference for you and the team?
(Sim Hyeon-Jun, Korea Republic)
I wouldn’t say the manager has told me to play in a different
way; I’ve been playing like this for years. I’ve just matured and
been given a lot more responsibility, but that doesn’t mean I don’t
want to win. I still have that passion and hunger.
Hopefully I can have a good run in the side now and keep scoring
goals. We’ve got ourselves into a good position in the league.
We’ve dealt with defensive setbacks very well. The way we played
last season has given us a lot of confidence and we will get there.
The pressure to succeed is still there because every manager and
every single player wants to make a name for themselves at our
expense.