Source: Daily_Mail
Rooney truce: Everton are still in my heart, Wayne tells angry fans
Wayne Rooney last night attempted to call a truce with Everton supporters before Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against his old club at Wembley. [LNB]Manchester United striker Rooney has faced a barrage of personal abuse from Goodison Park fans since his move to Old Trafford in 2004. [LNB] Red devil: Despite insisting he is an Everton fan, Wayne Rooney's actions at Goodison Park last October suggested he had found a new love...[LNB]He is likely to be on the receiving end of more at Wembley but has offered an olive branch to Evertonians by suggesting that he is still a fan. [LNB]Rooney said: 'I always want Everton to do well. It's always a bit strange when I face them, because they're the club I supported growing up and then played for. There's always banter between me and the Everton fans, but it doesn't run too deep for me. [LNB]'Theirs is the result I still look out for first and I've said before that I'd love them to finish second in the Premier League to us. [LNB] Waering his colours: Wayne Rooney, aged 11, lines up as Everton mascot with Toffees' captain Dave Watson (left) before a 1996 derby at Anfield [LNB]'I'm looking forward to Sunday's game. I've got a lot of family going down to London for the match and there'll be mixed feelings whatever the outcome but hopefully we can get through to the final.' [LNB]Rooney was at the old Wembley Stadium 14 years ago when Paul Rideout scored as Everton beat United in the final and last night he did not rule out going to this year's game if Everton manage to eliminate his team. [LNB]He said: 'In 1995, I was there with Everton's junior team. It was the best feeling I ever had as an Everton fan, seeing them win the FA Cup, and I used to have loads of Everton posters on my wall as a kid. [LNB]Blue boy: Rooney's Porto souvenir.[LNB]'All the stick I get makes me want to do better, but it doesn't bother me that much now. [LNB]'I'm not sure if I'd go to the final or not. I'm not sure where I'd sit. I might have to go in disguise!' [LNB]United face Everton with their season back on track after victory in Porto on Wednesday night took them into a Champions League semi-final, with the first leg on Wednesday week. [LNB]But Rooney had a warning for his team-mates, saying: 'We're so close to glory but just one defeat could shatter our dreams. We have to make sure we stay focused and prepare properly for the games we have left. [LNB]'Over the last few weeks we've had some terrible results but maybe that's helped by reminding us what we had to do, by getting back to basics and defending well as a team. I love playing Arsenal because they're such a great team and play really good football.' [LNB]Everton boss David Moyes, meanwhile, has questioned Mike Riley's appointment as replacement referee on Sunday and suggested that the FA should investigate whether the official has an allegiance to Manchester United. [LNB]After hearing that the Leeds-born Riley had been chosen to step in for the unwell Steve Bennett, Moyes said: 'A member of the press asked me if he was a United supporter, and I think that's something you would need to bring up with the FA. If you're saying that he is, you'd hope that the FA would look at it.' [LNB]Riley infuriated Moyes six years ago by awarding United a controversial penalty in the final game of the season, as Everton missed out on a UEFA Cup place, while he also sent off Tim Cahill in this season's 2-0 Barclays Premier League defeat by Liverpool.[LNB] Little Boy Blue: Son of Rooney will have his nursery decked out in Everton coloursSaha: Wembley will give United FA Cup semi-final edge over EvertonMANCHESTER UNITED FC
