Source: Daily_Mail
Rooney wants the life of Ryan - United striker uses Giggs as role model
He's done it all: United legend Giggs[LNB]Wayne Rooney believes this week's arrival of his son Kai is not a reason for him to rethink his lifestyle because embarrassing high-profile mistakes he made as a youngster have already curbed any appetite for self-destruction.[LNB] The Manchester United striker admits to being betrayed by his naive nature when he burst onto the Premier League stage at the age of 16, saddled with the pressure of being labelled one game's brightest talents. [LNB]He accepts there were a few undistinguished moments in his teenage years, including the trip to a brothel deemed as a boyhood rite of passage on the tough estate he grew up on.[LNB] But after advice from Sir Alex Ferguson and using 35-year-old Ryan Giggs as his role model, Rooney began to concentrate on fulfilling his potential.[LNB] [LNB]How they compareGIGGS: age 35: 816 apps, 150 gls, 34 yellow cards, 11 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 2 Champions League, 1 PFA Player of Year, 2 Young PFA Player. [LNB] ROONEY: age 24: 252 apps, 105 gls, 52 yellow cards, 2 reds, 3 Premier League titles, 1 Champions League, 1 League Cup, 2 PFA Young Player. [LNB]Now he is proud to be thought of as a modern man whom the youth of today can look up to, while being the pivotal figure to United's hopes. [LNB]He said: 'Obviously, when I first got into the England team until I was 20 or 21, I was probably a bit naive in going out. But I soon realised you can't do that, that there are young kids watching and you've got to try to set an example. I'm a completely different person off the pitch to the one I am on it. On the pitch I'm a footballer andgive everything. Off it I'm quite relaxed and calm so it's definitely two different people.'[LNB] United front: Rooney (left) is in his sixth season at Old Trafford[LNB] Rooney, 24, admires the way United's elder statesman Giggs coped withthe pressure of being a high profile star during his early career. Withover 800 appearances and many medals and honours bolstering hisreputation, the Welshman's role at the club will eventually rest onRooney's shoulders.[LNB] Rooney said: 'You've got to have great respect for the way Giggsyhandles himself. You look at the things he's done and won and for mehe's the perfect role model. I hope I can reach the number of gamesGiggsy has played.[LNB] 'I'd love to end my career here and if I could emulate what Giggsy has done at this club it would be an amazing achievement.'[LNB] Yet, despite fatherhood and his new maturity, Wes Brown still nicknames Rooney and Darren Fletcher 'Tom and Jerry'.[LNB] 'I don't know who is who,' said Rooney. 'I think Fletch would have tobe the mouse. We always try to wind Wes up so sometimes he bites backand he just called us that. Everyone gets on really well.'[LNB] That team spirit is in part down to Ferguson who today celebrates 23years in charge at United. He will be hoping to celebrate theanniversary with a win at Chelsea on Sunday. He said: 'It's always ahard game but we'll deal with it better than when we lost at Anfield.'[LNB] United, meanwhile, have agreed to pay Barnsley £10,000 in compensation for the damage caused by their fans at last month's Carling Cup clash.[LNB] Injuries have wrecked Manchester United's defence, admits club captain Gary NevilleGRAHAM POLL: Branding Darren Fletcher a cheat was a terrible slurManchester United the kings of Europe as Premier League clubs flood the top 50 best supported sides across the ContinentManchester United and Chelsea check out QPR wonderkid Raheem Sterling's England bowManchester United and City set for £30m transfer tussle as Ajax are forced to sell Luis SuarezCity boss McLeish supports Sir Alex's demands for yellow-card rule changeMANCHESTER UNITED FC
