Source: Daily_Mail
Wayne Rooney finally apologises to Manchester United fans
Wayne Rooney has delivered a withering response to suggestions that Manchester City wanted to sign him last month by claiming he would rather have gone abroad than have moved across town to Eastlands. [LNB]The Manchester United striker is in the middle of a mini-charm offensive as his playing comeback this week has been accompanied by a string of media appearances apparently aimed at winning back the affections of the club's fans. [LNB]The latest came after the 25-year-old scored his first United goal since August as his team beat Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox in the Champions League on Wednesday night. [LNB] Delighted to be back: Rooney celebrates his last-gasp goal against Rangers on Wednesday[LNB]Asked if leaving United - as he almost did last month - would have been a mistake, Rooney said: 'Yes, of course. You see so many players leave this club and not do so well so I am just delighted I have stayed. [LNB]'Everyone is saying that I was definitely going to Man City. I wasn't. Believe me if I had gone it wouldn't have been in England.' [LNB]With Rooney now tied to a new £200,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford, he has refuted suggestions this week that he signed the deal only to enable United to sell him at a higher price further down the line. [LNB]He has also delivered the long-awaited apology to supporters that was promised by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson after he suggested in a statement that United were no longer good enough to satisfy his professional ambitions. [LNB]Rooney added: 'I feel like I have apologised to the fans but everyone keeps saying that I haven't. If that is the case, then I apologise for my side of things. [LNB]'I have made my point clear since I signed my contract that I am committed to this club for the long-term and I want to be successful with this club. [LNB] Spot on: Rooney believes his rehabilitation training in the US has really helped improve his fitness[LNB]'I spoke with the manager and (chief executive) David Gill and obviously they reassured me the club was moving forward and from that point it took maybe two or three hours to negotiate my contract and sign it. [LNB]'Mentally I have been OK. I am mentally strong. Because the football has not been going well and the other things that have happened, everyone has put it down to not being mentally strong enough but I am. [LNB]'Obviously the most important thing for me at the minute is to play and score goals. I can get back to the standard of last season. I am a confident person and think I can do it.' [LNB]Rooney's goal in Glasgow came towards the end of his first 90-minute performance for United since September. Coming from the penalty spot, it means he has still not scored from open play for his club since March. [LNB]Having been sent to America by Ferguson for a week to try to regain full fitness after an ankle injury, Rooney hopes to start against Blackburn in the Barclays Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday. [LNB]He said: 'Going to the States has helped me a lot because, normally when I have been injured, it has taken me four or five games to feel I was back to full fitness and I would feel it in the last 20 minutes of matches. Against Rangers I felt good in the last 20 minutes. [LNB]'I wasn't going to argue with the manager (when he told him to go). I needed to get the training in and, if that is what they wanted me to do, I was happy to do it and it worked out well. [LNB] Here for the long haul: Rooney dismissed reports he would leave United for mega-rich rivals Man City[LNB]'It was great to be back on the field and in the team, though. It is obviously a while and a lot has happened but I was delighted to be back in the starting line-up. [LNB]'I think I was OK. I had a few chances. I was happy that I was in the right positions to get the chances because normally, when you come back from fitness, it takes you a while to get into the positions. [LNB]'I was delighted with the penalty. It will give me confidence. [LNB]'It was nice to score but the main thing was to get back playing. It was a great feeling. It was a great relief and I am sure you could see that with my celebrations. Hopefully, I can kick on from this. After a hard couple of months it was such a great feeling. [LNB]'I don't think I have consistently had a run of games this season. People are saying how bad I have been playing but I don't think I have played that many games for my form to have been a disaster. [LNB]'With everything that has happened, it all goes a bit overboard but I know I have been through patches before when I haven't played well and I have come through them. I know 100 per cent I will come through this one. I am just happy it is all over and I want to put it behind me and look forward.' [LNB]United are still trying to sign Danish keeper Anders Lindegaard and it was suggested last night in Scandinavia that the 26-year-old had travelled to Manchester for talks.[LNB] On the money! Rooney repays Fergie faith with late winner at Ibrox Never-say-die attitude will keep United in hunt for trophies, insists Carrick MANCHESTER UNITED FC
