Source: Team_Talk
Rooney targets more silverware
England striker Wayne Rooney is intent on "creating more history" for Manchester United.[LNB] Depending on the angle you take, this summer was a time for sober reflection at Old Trafford after a chastening Champions League final defeat to Barcelona or celebration at a record 19th league title triumph.[LNB]Yet, according to Rooney, all such considerations should now be dismissed.[LNB]Already a game into a five-match pre-season tour of the United States and put through their paces in a rigorous series of training sessions at Seattle Seahawks' training base, the Red Devils are looking forward again.[LNB]And despite the satisfaction of a medal collection that extends to four league titles, a Champions League and a succession of other trophies, that is exactly how Rooney feels it should be.[LNB]"You need to look forward rather than look back," he told ESPN.[LNB]"It is something this club breeds into you.[LNB]"The feeling you get from winning trophies is incredible. But we are expected to win trophies.[LNB]"We need to try to create more history for the club."[LNB]Rooney has no worries that will be achieved. Indeed, the England striker is adamant glory will continue to be a staple diet at Old Trafford as long as Sir Alex Ferguson remains in charge.[LNB]Ferguson celebrates his 25th anniversary as United boss later this year. Rooney can detect no lessening of his desire as the years go by.[LNB]"While he is here, we'll always be in the hunt to win trophies," he said, insisting that 3-1 defeat against Barca at Wembley in May should not trigger an inferiority complex.[LNB]"Obviously, they were a lot better than us on the day," Rooney said.[LNB]"But over the last four years, we have been to three finals.[LNB]"We are not that far away. If we just give it an extra five percent and try to improve that much, then I think we'll be all right."[LNB]Fellow striker Michael Owen certainly thinks so, dismissing at a stroke any notion that his burgeoning racing empire - which brought him a Royal Ascot victory in the summer - may be dampening his own quest for honours.[LNB]"That [horse racing] will never be my career," said Owen, who signed a new one-year contract this summer. "It's just a big passion of mine.[LNB]"It will always be there in the background, but football is my main passion and everyone knows that.[LNB]"I'd like to think that if I stop playing in three, four or five years' time, whatever it may be, that I'll still be involved in football and still have that as my profession.[LNB]"It's my passion and what I know."[LNB]Meanwhile, it is being suggested Darren Fletcher's ongoing struggle for fitness is worse than initially suggested.[LNB]The Scotland midfielder was not named in United's tour party, with club officials claiming Fletcher needed to do more conditioning work to recover from a virus that wrecked his chances of playing any meaningful role in United's run-in.[LNB]However, there have now been claims Fletcher has been told to stay away from United's Carrington training ground for fear the virus which triggered substantial weight-loss has struck again.
