PFA chief defends Wayne Rooney over Manchester United exit saga
Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, has defended Wayne Rooney after a series of events which saw the player announce his intention to leave Manchester United only to sign a new contract with a vastly-improved
wage package just two days later.
The England international striker has been criticised by fans and the media over the incident, but while Taylor believes that Rooney knew what was written in the press statement which revealed his desire to leave, the PFA head does not think the 24-year-old
put together the document himself.
'Situation could have been handled better'
Taylor told British radio station TalkSport that: “He’s an easy target and in this credit crunch it's not been the best of times to have all this talk of wages out in public. It could have been handled better, as has been said by Man United.
"That press release was probably put together by other people but he (Rooney) knew what was in it. He feels he wants to be at a club that’s going places, but to take on Man United and (Red Devils manager) Sir Alex (Ferguson) in that matter is not what I
would have recommended."
After committing himself to United until 2015, Rooney told reporters that he had a lot of work to do to win back the trust of the fans after those events.
Taylor agreed with the player’s comments and suggested that the only way he would be again regarded as an idol by the United supporters would be for him to put in strong performances on the pitch.
He said that: "Now he’s got to win over the fans again and he can only do that on the pitch, not off it, and everyone is hoping he will do. It’s probably a catalyst in his life and career and now it has to be a lot more constructive and progressive.”
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