Part 2 - Special Feature: Manchester United and Wayne Rooney, Ferguson in control but Rooney out of control
After kissing and making up following their embarrassing encounter in the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo and Rooney led Manchester United to another league title in 2006-2007 season.
It was a brilliant season for Manchester United in which both these youngsters finally came of age and led the Red Devils by example. Despite out running Chelsea and Arsenal in the race for the English Premier League title, Sir
Alex Ferguson’s men fell short in the UEFA Champions League competition where they were knocked out by a Ricardo Kaka inspired A.C Milan team in the semi-final of the tournament.
In the league winning 2006-2007 season, Wayne scored 23 goals in 55 appearances whereas Ronaldo netted 23 goals in 52 appearances and also managed to assist his team mates a remarkable number of 23 times in all competitions. In
the very next season, when United again won the English Premier League title as well as the UEFA Champions League final by defeating Chelsea on penalties, Rooney scored 18 goals in 43 matches whilst Ronaldo scored 42 goals in 49 games.
Finally in the 2008-2009 season when United again reached the final match of the UEFA Champions League competition but failed to win against a resurgent Barcelona side, Ronaldo scored 26 goals in 53 matches whereas Rooney was successful
in scoring 20 goals in all competitions for Manchester United. After the failure to retain their European crown in 2009, Manchester United parted ways with Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo.
In doing so, the entire onus was placed on Wayne Rooney for the up-coming 2009-2010 season. The loss of Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo cost United dear as failed to win the league for an unprecedented fourth time in a row as the Red
Devils placed all their faith on the shoulders of Rooney.
In all honesty, the striker did not actually disappoint but such a huge burden on his shoulders proved to be too much in the end. In the 2009-2010 season, United lost the league title to Chelsea by only a single point but failed
to do well in the UEFA Champions League as they were knocked out of the tournament at the quarter final stage by Bayern Munich. In the away leg at the Allianz Arena, United’s season suffered a terrible blow due to an injury to Rooney.
Nonetheless in the 2009-2010 season, Rooney broke the thirty goal barrier for the first time in his career as he scored 34 goals in 44 matches for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
In the summer of 2010, Rooney went to the FIFA 2010 World Cup with England but failed to perform. According to some reports, he was suffering from fatigue and perhaps hasn’t fully recovered from the ankle injury he suffered against
Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter final.
After the World Cup, Rooney saw his personal life deteriorate amongst reports of infidelity. News of the World, a sports news outlet in England broke the news regarding Rooney’s affair with a vice girl named Jennifer Thompson.
It was a massive blow to Wayne’s married life as rumours emerged that his wife, Colleen would leave him due to his unfaithful behaviour.
With these reports swirling around the footballing world, the 2010-2011 season kicked off and Rooney’s form further deteriorated. In this uncertain atmosphere, Sir Alex Ferguson left Rooney out of United’s crucial English Premier
League matchup against Everton, a match that Manchester United eventually drew three all.
Ferguson then left Rooney out of his starting line up against West Bromwich Albion as well. Amidst this chaotic situation, Rooney has apparently stalled contract talks with Manchester United and is subject of fresh transfer speculation
regarding a move away from Old Trafford. It is reported that apparently the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Inter Milan are interested in the English national team striker. This move is potentially a make and break one for Wayne Rooney, whose career
looks to be hanging in the balance at the moment.
Not only that, it might be defining transfer as far as Manchester United are concerned. It is not as if the club has had a shortage of talent in their ranks but Sir Alex Ferguson's side is definately on the ropes.
Tags: