Rooney: We can save season in Munich
But his criticism of the team’s finishing is nevertheless an indication of underlying frustrations at the end of what has been a hugely difficult campaign.
United’s performance against Bayern on Tuesday, full of fight and defiance, has revived spirits at the club and helped players rediscover the ‘inner champion’ that seemed to have been buried so deep during David Moyes’ first year in charge. Now they have an opportunity, as Chelsea did two years ago, to wipe out eight months of trauma by producing a result in the Champions League that catapults them back into the upper echelons of European football and even, should they create a miracle and win the trophy, provide a way back into the competition next season.
No wonder Rooney sees Wednesday’s match in Munich as a season-defining game.
“We have to focus on that game,” he said. “We have to put everything into it that we’ve got. It’s a massive game for our season. If we could win there it would be one of our best results in Europe. They are favourites for the tournament and it will be a tough ask. But all we could do in the first leg was give ourselves a chance and stay in the tie, and we have done it.
“Defensively we were organised, we defended really well. We had to. And if we were a bit more composed in front of goal we could have won the game.”
That last comment is a little caveat, however, that shows United, despite the fight and passion shown against Bayern, are still some way short of the standards set in the past; which must be difficult for the likes of Rooney and Giggs to acclimatise to. Striker Danny Welbeck, for instance, had a wonderful opportunity to score in the first half when clean through on goal, but attempted a clever chip over goalkeeper Mauel Neuer when the situation demanded a more clinical approach.
“It was a great chance,” said Rooney. “And we have watched videos of their goalkeeper and we know he’s a bit like Schmeichel and comes flying out. It’s hard to dink him; it’s a bit disappointing. But he’ll learn from that — I’m sure if he gets a chance over there he won’t do that.
“The main thing is we are still in the game. It’s 50-50. You can see there are chances against this team; they hold a really high line and with a bit more composure we can exploit that. The first leg was a good result overall with the way the season has gone. We are just disappointed we didn’t take more of the chances we had because they were there for us. We had better chances than them and I wish we had taken one more.”
United may have to accept that with Robin van Persie injured and Juan Mata cup-tied (and with very little quality in midfield) they no longer have the creative ability to play the kind of barnstorming football that made them so entertaining under Alex Ferguson; but even so it felt like they had turned a corner on Tuesday as calls for Moyes to be sacked were brushed aside and the Stretford End roared encouragement from first minute to last.
“It was important,” said Rooney. “You could see the crowd again were fantastic for us and we as a team responded to that. We knew it was going to be tough and they would have a lot of possession; so we had to try and limit the chances they created with that possession. And I thought we did that really well. Our experience showed. I thought Rio and Vida played really well.
“Of course it’s just one result and we won’t get carried away. But a win over there will keep our season alive and it’s a massive chance for us. As a player to have a chance to go there and knock them out as holders of the trophy is a great incentive.
“We’ve been better away from home this season and we won quite comfortably at Leverkusen. We know this will be much tougher and that they will have a lot of possession — but we have to accept that and defend well, play on the break and create chances.”
Given the way they performed at Old Trafford the first two of those tasks look achievable for United; but the latter, given the lack of quality in some areas of the team, is a real challenge. Moyes may well be able to generate spirit in his team but, without access to the transfer market until June, instilling quality in midfield and a more clinical eye up front will be a far bigger test. It may well be down to Rooney to provide it.
Wayne Rooney has responded strongly to accusations he dived to influence the sending-off of Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger in a Champions League quarter-final tie at Old Trafford.
The German star received a second booking for his foul on Rooney in Tuesday’s first-leg match which ended 1-1 and remonstrated with the United striker before leaving the pitch.
Bayern manager Pep Guardiola later accused referee Carlos Velasco Carballo of making a mistake.
Rooney, however, is adamant he did not dive.
He said: “It was a foul. If I didn’t get out of the way he could have hurt me, he came in with studs. And if the referee booked him it’s not my decision.
“It’s not nice to see anyone sent off and I didn’t try and get him sent off. The referee made the decision. I have tried to stop myself getting hurt and the referee has had a decision to make.”
Schweinsteiger was one of Bayern’s key players in the draw at Old Trafford, scoring the equaliser after Nemanja Vidic had put United ahead; but the midfielder will now miss the second leg in Munich next week.
“He’s great player and he’s someone they will miss, especially with Javi Martinez being suspended as well,” said Rooney. “But they have good players to come in.”
Meanwhile 1,028,400 tuned into TV3 on Tuesday night to see United’s 1-1 draw with Munich. The first leg tie averaged at 286,100 viewers across three hours.
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