Source: Daily_Mail
Wayne Rooney: My life at Manchester United
On top of the world: Wayne Rooney celebrates with United team-mate Michael Carrick (bottom) It will be just what his managers at Manchester United and England want to hear. Wayne Rooney is enjoying the season of his life, his last-gasp winner to beat Manchester City in the Carling Cup semi-finals yet another example of his fine form in a season where some of his team-mates have struggled, taking him within reach of his best goal tally ever. Perhaps it is the new-found maturity of fatherhood - 'I'm now in bed by 10.30. It used to be after 1am, it's been a big change' - but Rooney is not interested in the individual accolades or the praise from as important a judge as Fabio Capello, who says his 'fantastic' striker has 'improved in every area and in one part of the pitch especially, close to goal'. As he prepares to face Arsenal in today's huge clash at the top of the Premier League, Rooney insisted his determination to help United win a record-breaking fourth successive title takes precedence over adding the three goals he needs to break his own record of 23 in a season, or any personal achievement. 'The only figure I'm thinking of is winning that fourth League,' said Rooney. 'No team has ever done that before. I am not interested in individual awards. If I get a lot of goals I'll be happy but to be honest I'm more of a team player than someone interested in individual awards. 'The first League I won we dominated from day one until the end of the season and from then we've gone on and won the Champions League and two more titles. It's been an amazing three years and if the next three are anything like as successful, I know myself, the other players, the manager and the fans will be very happy. ON STAYING AT OLD TRAFFORD This is my club. I'm perfectly happy. United are the biggest club in the world ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SIR ALEX There are days when I don't want to see the manager. The dressing room is not a nice place if we lose ON HIS HERO DUNCAN FERGUSON As a young lad, I wrote to him in jail and, to my surprise, I got a letter back ON HIS FEUD WITH DAVID MOYESI need to end the bitterness with him. Things haven't been good, but he helped make me the player I am ON LIFE AS A NEW FATHERI'm now in bed by 10.30 - it used to be after 1am. It's been a big change for me and Coleen ON BEATING BITTER RIVALS CITYNormally the manager would play younger lads in the Carling Cup, but we all knew what was at stake. It was massive for us 'The club have won three European Cups and winning five is achievable, because we are the biggest club in the world. 'For my first couple of years at United, Chelsea looked so strong, impossible to beat really, and I was thinking "But I came here to win things . I'm not winning anything". We knew we had to buck ourselves up - the players - to challenge them.' Rooney cited the attitude of 36-year-old team-mate Ryan Giggs as typical of United's dressing room determination. 'It's amazing to play on the same team as him,' he said. 'I remember watching him when I was about eight! I'm so privileged to play with him. He's a great example for everyone, even for people like Paul Scholes, Gary Neville; he's been an example to them. 'Everything about him says that he's a class act. He's played the record amount of games for United. I don't know how many goals he's scored, and how many medals he's won but his achievements are amazing and I don't think anyone will ever better them.' Rooney, 24, describes the day he signed for United as one of the greatest in his life and insists he is determined to resist the temptation of multi-million pound offers from either Real Madrid or Barcelona.'I was at my friend's the night before watching television and got a call at about midnight saying, ''Make sure you get a good sleep, we're going to Old Trafford tomorrow''. Of course, I didn't get much sleep! 'When I got to the training ground I met some of the players and then I went to Old Trafford to sign. It was a fantastic day for me. 'I knew the way I play football, with passion and commitment, I knew United fans love players like that and that if I showed them that they'd take to me, never mind scoring goals. Rising high: Rooney scores against City - his 21st strike of the season'I think it's the way I've been brought up. My mum and dad brought me up to be the best I can and try to win in everything I do. If I feel like I can do something to help my team-mates I will.' There are, though, even at his favourite place in the world, a few bad days. Rooney has a special relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, but even he is not spared sometimes. 'There are days when I don't want to see the manager,' he said. 'He can be fierce at times. Even after we have won 2-0 or 3-0, and the lads are laughing and joking and thinking they've played well, he sometimes comes in and lets loose. I'm left thinking: "What's wrong?" 'Our dressing room is not a nice place to be when we lose. He's a perfectionist.' Capello is also a perfectionist, but he has been filled with hope about this summer's World Cup by watching Rooney this season. 'Rooney has improved a lot during the last two years and this season he has been fantastic,' said Capello. 'He has been United's leader on the pitch. 'He is scoring goals and it is good for him, Manchester United and England. It is good for his confidence as a forward. Sometimes when a forward doesn't score for five or six games then people start counting even if they make assists for forwards it is only about scoring.' Head over heels: Rooney enjoyed putting one over United's rivals City in the Carling Cup semi-finalRooney revealed it was another 'Ferguson' who filled his youthful dreams to be a top footballer when he first joined Everton. 'I was always an Everton fan and Duncan Ferguson was a big hero of mine,' he said. 'As a young lad, I even wrote to him when he was in jail! It came as a surprise when, one day, I got a letter back from him. Then, a few years later, I was playing alongside him. 'Duncan and Alan Stubbs were a big help to me when I was a young player at Everton. The club is still a big part of my life and my family's life, but I'm a Manchester United player and I give my all for them. 'This is my club. I'm very happy here. My family live 30 minutes away. I'm perfectly happy and there is no reason to play my football anywhere else. Manchester United are the biggest club in the world.' Rooney is also keen to end what became a bitter feud between himself and Everton boss David Moyes following his move to Old Trafford, insisting: 'Things haven't been good between us. I've said a few bad things in the past about him, but when I look back, I see what he did for me. He helped make me the player I am today.' Rooney reflected the dressing-room delight at being able to put one over on their deadly rivals City and reach the Carling Cup final. 'The manager tended to play the younger lads in the Carling Cup, but all of us knew what was at stake in the semi-final with City. It was massive for our crowd. It was a good game and I'm sure all the neutrals enjoyed it.' Having missed last year's penalty shoot-out win over Spurs, he signalled his determination to be in the team which will attempt to retain the Carling Cup against Aston Villa on February 28. 'Villa are a good team and it's going to be difficult. Hopefully the manager plays his strongest team because when you get to a final you want to win it and as a player you want to play.' Michael Owen will be shown Manchester United door in summer as Sir Alex Ferguson looks for wage cutsWayne Rooney could play for Real Madrid - Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger salutes in-form Manchester United striker Is Rooney the white Pele? There's some way to go but he has the God-given potentialMANCHESTER UNITED FC