Wayne Rooney revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson communicated his true feelings to a Manchester United player during his legendary reign at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson brought Red Devils legend Wayne Rooney to Old Trafford after Manchester United signed him in a deal worth £27m from Everton in 2004.
Rooney had a remarkable playing spell at Old Trafford and the 39-year-old ex-United captain is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League strikers of all time.
During his time at the Red Devils, Rooney lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups.
The former United and England striker scored a remarkable 253 times in 559 appearances for the Red Devils to become the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Rooney continued to play at the Red Devils long after legendary former United manager Ferguson bowed out of football management in 2013.
The United legend was a key part of the last Red Devils team to lift the Premier League trophy in the 2012-13 campaign under Ferguson.
Rooney’s prolific playing spell at Old Trafford ended in 2017 and he returned to boyhood club Everton for a second run at the Premier League club.
Rooney reprimanded by Ferguson
Wayne Rooney recalled one incident during his legendary Manchester United career where he was “a bit disrespectful” towards former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Red Devils were away to Portsmouth in November 2009 and Rooney opened the scoring for United from the spot-kick in the Premier League clash.
Kevin-Prince Boateng found the equaliser for Portsmouth in the first half and United went into the break level before Rooney made his impact again in the second half.
Rooney would complete his hat-trick after the break and Ryan Giggs added United’s fourth of the match, with Ferguson’s men thumping Portsmouth 4-1 in the league.
However, the England and United hero admitted that Ferguson “went at” him during the break and Rooney “went back at” the Scotsman during the exchange.
“I got it a lot, yeah. When he went, of course, he was scary and intimidating,” Rooney told BBC Sport.
“At times deserved, at times not deserved. But I think he knew the right times to do it and he knew the effect which it would have which normally for me was a positive effect on the pitch.
“There was a game that always sticks out. It was Portsmouth away, we were winning 1-0, I scored in the first half and he came in and he battered me.
“He just went at me and I felt it wasn’t deserved and I went back at him, and probably went back a bit too far.
“It was a bit disrespectful and he spoke to me after that and made it clear that I can’t speak to him like that.
“And then I went out and scored another two, so I scored a hat-trick in the game.”
Rooney on Ferguson’s subtle message to players
Speaking on Ferguson, Rooney revealed that the United and Aberdeen legend would communicate his message with a player by what he would do on the team bus.
The former England international admitted that Ferguson would be subtle in his acknowledgement to a player and it was a sign of putting things to bed.
“It was always after the game, it was on the bus – this is where he was brilliant – he’d be sat on the and he’d walk past you and get a tea or a coffee and when he walks back past you he’d give you a little slap on the head and that was his way of saying it’s forgot about,” Rooney added.
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