Ferguson claims fans’ backlash prompted Rooney U-turn

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson believes Wayne Rooney realised he had made a major mistake when he felt the backlash against his plans to leave Old Trafford.

Rooney stated last month that he would not sign a new contract with United, after failing to receive assurances over squad-strengthening.

But two days later he agreed a five-year stay, with Ferguson glad the England striker realised he had been hasty in going public over his concerns, which were met by an angry response from many supporters.

Ferguson believes the advice Rooney received was not in the 25-year-old’s best interests.

“You don’t necessarily have to heed advice after listening to it,” Ferguson said. “Some young people take bad advice. He has an agent who is not the most popular man in the world and he obviously sold it to Wayne to ask away. The boy rushed in.

“But the minute he heard the response of the public and our supporters, he changed his mind, he knew he’d made a mistake. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you recognise it. He immediately apologised and agreed a new contract within a couple of hours.

“It wasn’t done to get the contract, I don’t think that for a minute. But maybe he should have listened to better advice.”

Discussing the current season, Ferguson admitted United had at times been lucky.

He said: “I don’t know how we are still unbeaten. We should have lost by six against Villa but in a way it was great because it was a reflection of what I have always believed in: when you give young people a chance they never disappoint you. We tend to go for younger players before older ones because they give you more loyalty.”

On the subject of the Glazer family, Ferguson said he was “privileged” to work with owners who let him run the team.

“They have never bothered me or interfered with my job. I’m probably in a privileged position.”

* ALEX FERGUSON dismissed retirement as “for young people”.

The Manchester United manager turns 69 next month but has no plans to relinquish the post at Old Trafford, held since 1986. “I’m too old to retire. I would have nothing to do. As long as my health is good I will carry on. My family will make this decision.”