by Wayne Rooney names just FOUR players from the 2008 Champions League winners Manchester United who will make it into today’s Man City XI in pursuit of the treble (including himself!)
- Man City aspires to match Man United’s treble success in 1999
- Wayne Rooney was part of the team that won the Champions League in 2008
- He named only four players who would go to the current Man City team
Wayne Rooney has admitted that the current Manchester City squad “would have an advantage” over the Manchester United team he played for and won the Champions League in 2008.
The United and England legend played a huge part in helping the Red Devils win the Premier League and Champions League in 2007-08 – beating Chelsea on penalties to win Europe’s most prestigious trophy.
City, meanwhile, are on course to match United’s famous treble feat in 1999. They are one point ahead of Arsenal in the title race, set to play Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final and Rooney’s former side in the FA Cup final.
In his column for The Telegraph, he named just four of United’s 2007-08 winning teams that would make up the current City squad – leaving out in particular Cristiano Ronaldo who won the first of his five Ballon d’Or in the same year.
He also claimed that the Red Devils would be similar to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool of recent years in that they can beat Man City in one-off matches but would “usually” be behind them in the final league table.
Wayne Rooney reveals Manchester City would have an ‘advantage’ over the Manchester United team he played for and won the Champions League in 2007-08
He believes United would be able to beat them in single matches but, like Liverpool in recent years, would normally be “a bit behind” in the final league table
There was one notable omission from Rooney’s list of players who would make a City team
The D.C. United manager said: “Could the 2008 United team compete with City? Head-to-head we would have a good chance, but in 38 games of the season they would have the advantage.
“I think we would be similar to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who would be able to beat them in single games, but usually we would be a bit behind them in the final league table.
“There were players in our team who would have gone to City. Paul Scholes would be perfect, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic too. I think I’d fit in too – and I’d love to play with Kevin De Bruyne and Haaland.
Apart from Ronaldo, other notable omissions include Edwin van der Sar, Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez.
Rooney criticized the Portuguese star for refusing to come on as a substitute for United against Spurs earlier this season – ahead of Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan that led to his departure from Old Trafford.
Al-Nassr star Ronaldo told Morgan about Rooney in an interview: “I don’t know why he criticizes me so much.
“Probably because he retired and I still play at a high level
I won’t say I look better than him. That’s true… but it’s hard to hear that kind of criticism and negativity from people who play with you, like Gary Neville.
Rooney named four 2008 Man United players who would make Man City’s current squad – not to mention Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d’Or later that year
Rooney has said Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand will join City’s current squad
He also noted that both he and Paul Scholes (center) could play for City’s current team
It was subsequently reported that Rooney was “confused” by Ronaldo’s comments.
Meanwhile, Rooney has said that if City are to win the Champions League final, it will allow them to reach multiple finals over the next few years. He referred to the fact that United played in finals against Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.
He said: “After winning in 2008, we’ve reached two more finals over the next three seasons and if City win this year, I’m sure they’ll make it to more finals like us.
“At the same time, they will reinforce an already amazing squad. The scary thing is that they could win many times by doing something similar to what Madrid have done in the last few years.
“If they win the Champions League and the title, as much as it hurts me, I think you would have to put City where United won the 1999 treble as the best Premier League side of all time.
“Our 2008 United team was also a great team, but the way City dominate their opponents and make it look so easy, so often – with constant fighting on all fronts – is beyond what we’ve done.”
