Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney claims that scoring an inch-perfect free kick ‘means nothing’ when it came during an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to derby rivals City.
Rooney continued his goal-scoring form with a free-kick that rippled the top-right hand corner of the City goal helping restore some pride for fans in the red-half of Manchester.
Despite the United number 10 scoring his 11th goal in the all Manchester affair —becoming the highest scorer in the fixture—Rooney claimed it meant nothing without the three points and victory.
“It is not good enough,” the 27-year-old told MUTV.
“We know we have to improve and stop giving these sloppy goals away.
“It is not nice to lose to City. It was a bad result and we are all extremely disappointed.”
“It is nice to score but it means nothing.”
Since his appointment David Moyes has failed to win any of the three fixtures against top-clubs – something his predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson was adept at.
With Moyes at the helm United have drawn with Chelsea at Old Trafford, lost to Liverpool at Anfield and suffered a 4-1 drubbing at the Etihad which has put the Scotsman under extreme pressure.
Rooney emphasised the importance of ‘six pointer’ games against title rivals.
“The most important thing today was the points and we have come away with none,” said Rooney.
“We have all grown up, whether it is Manchester, Liverpool or somewhere else having local derbies.
“It is not nice when you lose one. I have been there as a fan and now as a player.
As Dutch talisman Robin van Persie is side-lined with a thigh-strain, Rooney’s importance to the Red Devils is paramount and the forward will need to continue his prolific form if United are to be successful.
This Wednesday will be another tough test for Rooney and the Red men against Liverpool in the Capital One Cup, which will likely see the return of Luis Suarez.
Rooney added: “Thankfully we have another massive game against Liverpool.
“It is the ideal game for us. Any game against Liverpool, whether it is a friendly, Capital One Cup or Premier League, is massive.
“We have to try and get the victory so we can put this defeat to the back of our minds.”
Image courtesy of MUFCtv, via YouTube, with thanks.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
