Fergie predicts Rooney will smash 30-goal barrier after Milan double

18 February 2010 02:46
Sir Alex Ferguson is banking on Wayne Rooney to smash through the 30-goal barrier this season.[LNB]It is not too much of a target for the Manchester United striker given he took his tally to 25 - a new personal record - with his second-half double in the momentous 3-2 Champions League win over AC Milan in the San Siro.[LNB]But Ferguson feels the goalscoring aspect of Rooney's game is driving him on to a new level, right to the very top of the world game.[LNB] Head master: Wayne Rooney plants the first of his two headed goals against AC [LNB]Rooney's record at United2004-05: 17 goals2005-06: 19 goals2006-07: 23 goals2007-08: 18 goals2008-09: 20 goals2009-10: 25 goals [LNB]'He could break 30,' declared the United boss. 'This season in particular, over the last two months, there has beena marked improvement in his game. Confidence has a lot to do with it ofcourse.[LNB]'I just felt he had to improve his goalscoring, which is what he is doing now. His overall performance was absolutely devastating. Milan couldn't handle him. They just couldn't handle him.[LNB]'He has to be regarded at the highest level, along with all the other players we know about.'[LNB]Rooney's magic appeared to have confirmed United's place in the lasteight, only for Clarence Seedorf to give Milan a glimmer of hope.[LNB]In fact, Ferguson admitted it was fortunate United had not sustainedmore damage during a one-sided opening in which Ronaldinho gave Milan athird-minute lead and then both he and Klaas Jan Huntelaar failed totake excellent chances to make matters much worse for the visitors.[LNB]'That first 20 minutes was a bad period for us,' said Ferguson.[LNB] Off night: Sir Alex Ferguson says Michael Carrick gave the referee no option not to send him off in the closing stages of the first leg tie after kicking the ball away[LNB][LNB]'We could have been two or three down because the bad start gave Milan encouragement.[LNB]'But we were desperate to hang on and thankfully we got ourselves back into it.'[LNB]The visitors managed that through Paul Scholes' left shin, whichDarren Fletcher's cross hit after the former England star had failed tomake contact with his intended right-footed shot.[LNB]  From there it was glory all the way for United until Seedorf struck to set up anervy last five minutes during which Michael Carrick was shown a second yellowcard for time-wasting, ruling him out of the Old Trafford return on March 10.[LNB]'I didn't know what it was for at first but then I was told he kicked the ball away,' said Ferguson.[LNB]'It was a soft red card but when you do something like that you are not really giving the referee any option.'[LNB] AC Milan 2 Manchester United 3: Wayne Rooney looks a world-beater as striker puts United in command after lucky Paul Scholes strike wrong-foots MilanHeadmaster! Towering Wayne Rooney is Manchester United's hero in the San SiroSan Siro Match Zone: Wayne Rooney's evil glare and the Green and Gold ArmyMARTIN SAMUEL: Beckham gets red blooded return his passion deservesMANCHESTER UNITED FC

Source: Daily_Mail