Man Utd coach shares that Wayne Rooney cried about his performance in the 2008 Champions League final.
Mick Clegg, who used to be Manchester United’s power development coach, shared a touching story about Wayne Rooney after the 2008 Champions League final. Even though United won the trophy in Moscow by beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties, Rooney was upset and even cried afterward.
Rooney wasn’t on the pitch for the shootout because he was taken off just nine minutes before extra time ended, with the score tied at 1-1. Cristiano Ronaldo scored first, but Frank Lampard equalized right before halftime. When the game stayed level, Sir Alex Ferguson brought on Nani to replace Rooney in the 111th minute. Despite John Terry missing a penalty and Edwin van der Sar saving Anelka’s shot, giving United their third European Cup, Rooney felt he let the fans down.
Clegg, who worked at United for 11 years and still sees old players like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at his Manchester gym, said this was classic Rooney – someone who just loves playing football. “After we won, Wayne came up to me, put his head on my shoulder and said, ‘I played s***, I can’t believe it,’ and he started crying,” Clegg told SPORTbible. He explained that Rooney was upset because he felt he hadn’t played well and that’s why he was taken off.
Rooney was often compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, who went on to become one of the best players in the world, but this never bothered Rooney. Clegg said Rooney wasn’t as focused on things like gym routines or diets. “Wayne was a pure footballer. He just loved playing the game,” said Clegg. “He liked boxing and sometimes he even playfully punched me, though I didn’t let him do it too much!”
Some people have said Rooney didn’t reach his full potential, but Clegg thinks that’s unfair. Rooney had an amazing career. He even said he wasn’t worried about rankings or comparisons. “He said, ‘I play my game, I love how I play, and that’s enough for me,’” Clegg shared.
When Rooney had a foot injury before the 2006 World Cup, Clegg spent three months helping him train, doing bike rides, gym work, and boxing. At that time, Rooney was so focused on getting fit for the World Cup that he could outdo anyone in the gym. He even had a gym installed at home, which was unusual back then.
Clegg feels lucky to have worked with Rooney, Ronaldo, and so many other great players at United. “It was a fantastic experience,” he said.