Alex Ferguson insisted he had no qualms with Wayne Rooney’s lifestyle after a Sunday newspaper report alleged the England striker had a major gambling hambit.
Rooney put the claims from the Sunday Mirror tabloid that he’d lost £700 000 since the start of the season firmly to one side by scoring United’s first and creating their second in a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford which ensured Ferguson’s men stayed seven points behind leaders Chelsea.
Asked if he was worried by Rooney’s conduct away from the field, Ferguson replied: ”Absolutely not. It’s absolute rubbish.”
The veteran Scottish boss said Rooney was just the latest victim of intrusive media coverage into footballers’ lives which began with United great George Best.
”I’ve said this time and time again, unfortunately today we have a media who want to examine every part of him,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.
”We had George Best in the 1960s, we had Paul Gascoigne and then we had David Beckham. They search for somebody who will fill a headline and of course along comes Wayne Rooney — it’s manna from heaven for them. It’s a load of nonsense and I dismiss it all completely.”
And 20-year-old England striker Rooney, who scored in the 54th minute before setting up Park Ji-Sung 12 minutes from time, said: ”I think if you look at my performance out there then that answers itself.”
United kicked off knowing Chelsea had beaten West Ham 4-1 earlier Sunday to go 10 points clear and Rooney admitted: ”Seeing the Chelsea result before the game we knew we had to get three points.
”It was a bit of a nervy start but we managed to create a few chances and we’re happy with the three points.”
An elated Ferguson said he was delighted by the way his team beat Champions League semifinalists Arsenal.
”It was a great performance by us, a real attacking performance. I felt the form Arsenal were in we had to give them some tests so we decided to attack them and it worked.
”The first 15 minutes, they always start well Arsenal. But once we got our own rhythm and tempo going we played very well. The build-up was fantastic. Arsenal’s form in Europe has been outstanding and their league form has picked up also but our form has been great too and we’ve produced that today.
”Today, I’ve think the spectators have seen a real good match between two fantastic teams.
”Wayne Rooney at times was absolutely sensational. Manchester United has always been built on young players who’ve entertained. The history is there and it’s something to live up too.”
Defeat left Arsenal five points behind north London rivals Tottenham in the race for the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place, their chances of playing in next season’s tournament increasingly resting on winning the European Cup final this year.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who kept star striker Thierry Henry on the bench until the 70th minute, admitted his side had been outfought.
”We had early chances we didn’t take and in a big game that can be costly. Overall, I felt physically Manchester United was sharper.
”We looked a bit jaded in the final half hour and I felt that was why United deserved to win the game,” explained the Frenchman, whose side will look to return to winning ways in Wednesday’s re-arranged fixture against a revitalised Portsmouth side battling against relegation. – AFP
