Source: Daily_Mail
Wayne Rooney can copy Euro heroics of Bobby Charlton, says Paddy Crerand
There was a wonderful scene during the BBC's United on Sunday night when a young, free and single Bobby Charlton is advised not to tell the girls he's a footballer, the theory being that his meagre '15 quid a week' wages would count against him in the pursuit of female company.[LNB] Times have obviously changed for our modern professionals, but those around Manchester United who continue to provide a bridge between the present and the club's past do see history repeating itself.[LNB] Big-game players: Wayne Rooney (left) and Bobby Charlton (right)[LNB] Forty-three years after Charlton so excelled in United's first European Cup final, the club has a player capable of emulating his contribution on that same Wembley stage.[LNB] 'I see a lot of Bobby in Wayne Rooney,' said Paddy Crerand, who is well qualified to judge as a central figure in that 1968 winning team and someone who remains part of the fabric of the club.[LNB] Crerand was as impressed as anyone by Rooney's display against Schalke at the Veltins-Arena on Tuesday night, and he shared his thoughts as he accompanied Charlton and the rest of the United party on the journey back from Dortmund yesterday afternoon. 'They are both big-name players,' he said.[LNB] 'Bobby was fantastic and Wayne is terrific too. Bobby always loved to get on the ball all the time and so does Wayne. Great players always want the ball. That's why clubs pay the most money for them.[LNB]HAMMER TIME FOR ROONEYIn the six games since his hat-trick against West Ham on April 2, Wayne Rooney's season has transformed. Before After[LNB]Apps.............................................6 6Goals............................................2 5Mins/goal.................................270 106Shots on target.........................10 11% shots on target......................59 65Shots to goals ratio..... ............12% 30%[LNB]His goalscoring form for the seasonalso transformed after January 1:[LNB]2010: 3 goals in 18 games[LNB]2011: 12 goals in 23 games[LNB]'Bobby was more dangerous from distance. I know Wayne can hit them but Bobby could hit them with either foot, and you wouldn't know which foot was his best. Was he a natural rightfooter or a natural left-footer? I still don't really know. But they are the same quality of player.'[LNB] As Crerand said, Rooney has evolved in a manner not dissimilar to Charlton. Like Rooney, Charlton began as a striker and, while Charlton spent a period as a winger in the wake of the Munich air disaster, he finally settled in a role similar to that Rooney now occupies: a deeper position behind the striker.[LNB] 'Bobby actually played more as a midfielder with England but he played that way for us,' said Crerand.[LNB] 'I think Wayne can do a great job there. I've always thought he would make a great midfield player. I've said that many times to people at Old Trafford over the years. He's very much like Bobby in that respect. It is a role that demands intelligence but football is like anything. As you get older you get wiser.'[LNB] Rooney has proved himself a biggame player throughout his career.[LNB] More recently there was that hattrick against West Ham, the overhead kick against Manchester City. Not to mention a quite brilliant performance against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the previous round of the Champions League.[LNB] Now, however, there is this sense that the Champions League final at Wembley could be as momentous for Rooney as it was for Charlton.[LNB] 'Bobby was terrific that night,' said Crerand. 'He scored two terrific goals; the first goal too. And the pressure he was under, because of everything that had happened, because Matt (Busby) had fought so hard to get the club into Europe in the first place, was immense.'[LNB] That was a unique pressure. A night when Charlton was playing as much for those United lost as those who were part of the club then. But the history remains part of them even today and United will be looking to Rooney to deliver should they advance to Wembley.[LNB] All smiles: Wayne Rooney (left) celebrates with Javier Hernandez (right)[LNB] Like Charlton, Rooney sees things more in the context of the team than the individual. He would not approach the game in the way Cristiano Ronaldo did the 2009 final, when he clearly regarded it as a duel between himself and Lionel Messi. Rooney might have his faults but he is a selfless performer on the pitch. In fact, had Ronaldo passed to him in 2009, Rooney might have made more of an impact in Rome.[LNB] Crerand and Charlton will admire that in Rooney and there is a feeling at United that their top player is coming back into form at exactly the right time. His injury proved hugely costly to United at the business end of last season but this time around he appears to be back to his very best and thriving in his new partnership with Javier Hernandez.[LNB] It has been building since the turn of the year. With the injury and all those off-the-field problems behind him - his contract dispute was something Patrice Evra candidly referred to yesterday as 'big trouble' - Rooney has been growing in stature with almost every game.[LNB] There have been 12 goals in 23 games since New Year's Day but he has offered so much more than that. 'I am a lot happier in my life and happier with the way I'm playing,' he said late on Tuesday night.[LNB] He is oozing confidence again - something that was fairly evident in the fact he wished Gerard Pique well yesterday ahead of last night's semi-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid. It would seem it matters not to him which of the two Spanish super powers progresses.[LNB] 'I think this team would be slightly better than us,' Crerand added modestly. 'They are going to get to the European Cup final and win the league as well. We never did that. The year we won the European Cup we were pipped to the league by City.'[LNB] Not everyone would agree, and when Peter Schmeichel once said his United side would have destroyed the '68 team it caused quite a storm. But few would argue Rooney would not be good enough to play in Busby's side. Even if it would probably be alongside Charlton rather than instead of him. [LNB] Fergie still says 'no' to Neuer deal despite Schalke keeper's wonder showMan City legend Bell calls for an end to 'degrading' Munich chantsArsenal look to nab Switzerland youngster Mbabu from under Manchester United's noses[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Lionel Messi Places: Barcelona, Rome, Munich, United Kingdom, Europe
