WAYNE ROONEY plans to show who the real Kings of Manchester are.
Manchester United face rivals City on Sunday in a massive clash between the title chasers and the world’s richest club. Yet for all the Blue talk of global domination, Rooney believes there is a huge wake-up call waiting at Eastlands this weekend. Especially with United desperate to claim revenge after losing both derby clashes last season.
Rooney, 23, said: “Sunday is a massive game. We owe the fans a derby win, even though we did win two trophies last season. Losing both games last season was extremely disappointing. It is a massive game, especially after what has happened at City with the takeover. It will be nice to show them who the Kings of Manchester are.”
Rooney insists that the publicity City are getting following their big-money takeover by Sheikh Mansour’s group means nothing until they start putting some silverware on the table.
He said: “It doesn’t irritate us that City are getting all this publicity.
If they were winning trophies it would irritate me but while they are still lingering in mid-table I am not really too bothered about it. The money coming into City is good for the league. For years the usual top four have been running away with it. You want more competition. If it happens that it is the top 10 fighting for the one place at the top then it will make it a more exciting league. It wouldn’t bother me if it was City making the challenge because you want competition.”
Rooney is revved up for Sunday having missed both derby defeats last season through injury and suspension. He said: “That was really frustrating, having to watch when you cannot do anything. It is different to any other game. The atmosphere at City is a really good one. The players always get up for it. If we can win the game, and I am sure we can, it will be a great result for us.”
There is more at stake for United than just local bragging rights, with an eight-point gap at the top to make up after some poor away form.
Rooney declared: “It is a must-win game for us.
“We cannot afford not to win it, especially if Liverpool and Chelsea win. We have had some difficult away matches but we should still have done better. But we are still not too far away from Liverpool and Chelsea and that is the main thing for us.
We normally finish the season strongly so hopefully we can do that again.”
Rooney would love to mark Sunday’s showdown with the 100th club goal of his career.
He has been stuck on 99 since the 3-0 win over Celtic at Old Trafford on October 21.
Rooney did everything but score in a goalless draw at Villarreal on Tuesday night that saw United into the next stage of the Champions League with a Group E game to spare.
Manchester United face rivals City on Sunday in a massive clash between the title chasers and the world’s richest club. Yet for all the Blue talk of global domination, Rooney believes there is a huge wake-up call waiting at Eastlands this weekend. Especially with United desperate to claim revenge after losing both derby clashes last season.
Rooney, 23, said: “Sunday is a massive game. We owe the fans a derby win, even though we did win two trophies last season. Losing both games last season was extremely disappointing. It is a massive game, especially after what has happened at City with the takeover. It will be nice to show them who the Kings of Manchester are.”
Rooney insists that the publicity City are getting following their big-money takeover by Sheikh Mansour’s group means nothing until they start putting some silverware on the table.
He said: “It doesn’t irritate us that City are getting all this publicity.
If they were winning trophies it would irritate me but while they are still lingering in mid-table I am not really too bothered about it. The money coming into City is good for the league. For years the usual top four have been running away with it. You want more competition. If it happens that it is the top 10 fighting for the one place at the top then it will make it a more exciting league. It wouldn’t bother me if it was City making the challenge because you want competition.”
Rooney is revved up for Sunday having missed both derby defeats last season through injury and suspension. He said: “That was really frustrating, having to watch when you cannot do anything. It is different to any other game. The atmosphere at City is a really good one. The players always get up for it. If we can win the game, and I am sure we can, it will be a great result for us.”
There is more at stake for United than just local bragging rights, with an eight-point gap at the top to make up after some poor away form.
Rooney declared: “It is a must-win game for us.
“We cannot afford not to win it, especially if Liverpool and Chelsea win. We have had some difficult away matches but we should still have done better. But we are still not too far away from Liverpool and Chelsea and that is the main thing for us.
We normally finish the season strongly so hopefully we can do that again.”
Rooney would love to mark Sunday’s showdown with the 100th club goal of his career.
He has been stuck on 99 since the 3-0 win over Celtic at Old Trafford on October 21.
Rooney did everything but score in a goalless draw at Villarreal on Tuesday night that saw United into the next stage of the Champions League with a Group E game to spare.
