Fergie leaves Moyes with Rooney dilemma
Source: AFP |
May 14, 2013, Tuesday
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ALEX Ferguson bowed out in triumph following his last Old Trafford match as Manchester United manager only to leave successor David Moyes with the familiar problem of what to do with striker Wayne Rooney.
No sooner had the Premier League champion defeated Swansea 2-1 on Sunday to bring down the curtain on Ferguson's final home match after more than 26 years in charge of United, than the veteran manager revealed England international Rooney had submitted a transfer request.
Ferguson, who retires at the end of the season, dropped Rooney for the Swansea match and said the forward had not been in the right frame of mind to play.
"I don't think Wayne was keen to play because he's asked for a transfer and he wants to think it through in his mind. I think that's a good idea," Ferguson said. "We're not going to let him go. I think maybe he's a little bit frustrated that he's been taken off once or twice in the last few weeks."
Although Rooney was not included in United's match-day squad, he took part in the post-match victory celebrations after the squad was presented with the Premier League trophy.
Rooney last asked to leave United in 2010 when he accused the club of failing to match his ambitions, only to change his mind and sign a new five-year contract.
Speculation about his future was sparked after he was left out of the United starting XI for the crucial Champions League last 16 home game against Real Madrid in March, with England teammate Danny Welbeck playing in his place.
He has also been obliged to play in an unfamiliar midfield role in recent weeks, due to top scorer Robin van Persie's status as the club's No. 1 striker.
Rumors that Rooney had asked to leave the club again first emerged on Wednesday.
Moyes handed Rooney his professional debut at the age of 16 when he was at Everton. Rooney joined United in a 27 million pound (US$42 million) transfer two years later and although Moyes sued him over remarks that appeared in the player's autobiography in 2006, the pair later reconciled.
Ferguson urged supporters to back his successor. "I'd also like to remind you that when we had bad times here, the club stood by me, all the staff stood by me, and the players stood by me. Your job now is to stand by our new manager."
The final game of Ferguson's United reign will be at West Brom next weekend.
No sooner had the Premier League champion defeated Swansea 2-1 on Sunday to bring down the curtain on Ferguson's final home match after more than 26 years in charge of United, than the veteran manager revealed England international Rooney had submitted a transfer request.
Ferguson, who retires at the end of the season, dropped Rooney for the Swansea match and said the forward had not been in the right frame of mind to play.
"I don't think Wayne was keen to play because he's asked for a transfer and he wants to think it through in his mind. I think that's a good idea," Ferguson said. "We're not going to let him go. I think maybe he's a little bit frustrated that he's been taken off once or twice in the last few weeks."
Although Rooney was not included in United's match-day squad, he took part in the post-match victory celebrations after the squad was presented with the Premier League trophy.
Rooney last asked to leave United in 2010 when he accused the club of failing to match his ambitions, only to change his mind and sign a new five-year contract.
Speculation about his future was sparked after he was left out of the United starting XI for the crucial Champions League last 16 home game against Real Madrid in March, with England teammate Danny Welbeck playing in his place.
He has also been obliged to play in an unfamiliar midfield role in recent weeks, due to top scorer Robin van Persie's status as the club's No. 1 striker.
Rumors that Rooney had asked to leave the club again first emerged on Wednesday.
Moyes handed Rooney his professional debut at the age of 16 when he was at Everton. Rooney joined United in a 27 million pound (US$42 million) transfer two years later and although Moyes sued him over remarks that appeared in the player's autobiography in 2006, the pair later reconciled.
Ferguson urged supporters to back his successor. "I'd also like to remind you that when we had bad times here, the club stood by me, all the staff stood by me, and the players stood by me. Your job now is to stand by our new manager."
The final game of Ferguson's United reign will be at West Brom next weekend.
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