“Never felt…” Wayne Rooney admits ex-Manchester United man was “always going to struggle”

Wayne Rooney has revealed that a former colleague of his at Manchester United was destined for failure at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney‘s tenure at Manchester United, from 2004 to 2017, is marked by his extraordinary achievements and evolution into one of the club’s all-time greats. Joining from Everton as a teenager, Rooney quickly became a cornerstone of United’s attack, known for his powerful strikes, vision, and relentless work ethic.

Over thirteen seasons, he amassed numerous titles, including five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups, and a Champions League title in 2008, as well as a host of individual accolades.

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Rooney’s impact at United is not just measured by his trophy haul but also by his record-breaking contributions to the team. He finished his United career as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s record.

His memorable moments include a debut hat-trick against Fenerbahçe in the Champions League, a stunning overhead kick against Manchester City in 2011, and consistent performances that made him a fan favourite.

Beyond his goals, Rooney’s leadership and adaptability also saw him donning various roles, from main striker to midfield playmaker, showcasing his versatility and commitment to the team’s success.

Rooney was one of the few players to grace Old Trafford that saw the heights of success under Sir Alex Ferguson as well as the demise of the club afterwards, which started with the appointment of David Moyes as the new manager in the summer of 2013.

Speaking on the latest Stick to Football episode, Rooney revealed that he feels Moyes was always destined to fail as United boss, explaining that the lack of control he had over the club at Old Trafford meant he would never be able to be the same man who guided Everton for 11 years.

“I was a player under David Moyes at Everton and Manchester United,” Rooney explained while speaking to Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Ian Wright, and Patrice Evra.

“And the main thing for me was that he wasn’t the same person at United than he was at Everton.

“He never felt that he could have the control like he did at Everton and unfortunately, he was always going to struggle at a club like Manchester United.”

Further, ex-Red Devil and France defender Evra then chimed in, explaining that Moyes’ biggest mistake at the club happened at the very beginning of his 10-month tenure.

“His biggest mistake was in his first speech to the squad,” Evra explained. “He mentioned how we knew how to win already, so he wanted our help to help him win trophies, which raised eyebrows amongst the squad.

“He made quite a few mistakes which made the players upset, so there were a few occasions when I went to Sir Alex Ferguson’s house, asking him to speak with Moyes as he was upsetting quite a few of the players.”

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