WAYNE ROONEY has never been more contented.
“I’m in a happy place,” admitsWayne Rooney.
A new man has certainly emerged from the wreckage of the second half of 2010.
New form and discipline.
New excitement aboutManchester United and England.
Even new hair!
So, when was the transplant of fortune made after he almost turned his back on Manchester United last season?
That stunning bicycle kick goal against City?
“No, it was New Year’s Day,” he said.
“I was just happy to get rid of 2010.
“The best decision of my career was staying at Manchester United. To think, I was close to not being part of what is happening this season.
“I made a mistake and owe every performance and goal to the fans. Winning things and playing with this team is all I ever wanted.
“I can see things happening now. The average age of the team is 22 and the future is exciting.
“What is happening this season is exactly what I wanted. What I dreamed of is what you are seeing now.
“I’m in a happy place on and off the pitch and looking forward to every game.”
Rooney had asked for a transfer, criticised the strength and ambition of the club and was only persuaded at the last moment to stay by Sir Alex Ferguson.
He says, for the club, it wasn’t a lost season because United won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.
Rooney, however, knew he wasn’t right.
Now, after a five-week break and as the central figure in a new-look young United side, he is happy.
“Before, things were just not happening for me,” he says.
“I always knew I would come back and be the same player because that is my character. But when?
“It’s hard when you know you can do things, you try and it doesn’t work. It was tough to come to terms with.
“Now I am playing some of the best football I have done for a long time.
“A lot of people on TV and in the papers criticised me and that helped. It made me angry and I had to prove them wrong.
“I am more experienced and do understand I will have a bad game. It was a tough six months and it’s behind me.”
Rooney knew he had to have time off in the summer to re-charge batteries.
So determined to do nothing he even ignored the holiday fitness programme handed to him by the club.
“The best thing for me was those five weeks when I did nothing at all,” he says.
“I came back for a good pre-season and have started well. I’m looking forward to everything. I was never sick of football and just needed rest.
“I made the decision to do no training on holiday and start pre-season fresh. I ignored the fitness programme although still watched what I ate because I am the type who puts on weight easily.
“I didn’t do anything, running, weights, nothing and only put on a couple of kilos.”
Rooney could not have wished for a better start with United’s new-look team of kids.
It climaxed with Sunday’s 8-2 demolition of Arsenal.
“I didn’t know how it was going to turn out because the manager put his faith in a lot of young players and played them all,” he says.
“They have excelled and here they are in the England squad.”
A great future with club and country is tipped for Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck.
“Everyone should be excited by these players,” adds Rooney.
“When you also look at Daniel Sturridge at Chelsea and Jack Wilshere of Arsenal there is real talent coming through for England.
“They could give England something we haven’t had before, not for 10 years anyway. We have been waiting for this.”
Rooney’s new mood was reflected yesterday. He was relaxed and confident, handling the spotlight off the pitch with the same ease in which he helped thrash Arsenal.
“I should still have scored with that chip,” he added laughing.
He was not even fazed when asked about Sir Alex Ferguson’s attack on the FA.
“There is not much I can say on that,” he says.
“England had nothing to do with me getting banned last season and I am happy to come here and play every time.
“I have apologised about the West Ham incident (when he was banned for swearing into a TV camera) and am moving on.
“There were times in the past when I was probably too aggressive on the pitch and went in for silly challenges. I’m not doing that any more. I feel good and more relaxed.
"I am trying to stay controlled. I believe I can be successful with all the players around me at United. There is a lot of movement and energy. It helps me influence the game more.
“I am trying to be the same player and I haven’t changed what I say or do on the pitch.”
Rooney is only 25 and yet one of the oldest in the United side.
“I am more experienced although I can only help the young ones so much because they have such great ability,” he says.
“It helped some of them to go out on loan and come back better players and more aware tactically.”
Rooney leaves with England tomorrow for Bulgaria and then it’s Wales at home next Tuesday in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
“The only thing missing from my career is winning with England,” he says.
“Our tournament performances have been disappointing.
“It is something I want to put right and with the young lads I am confident we can be successful over the next 10 years.”
And that £20,000 hair transplant?
“I was going bald for a few years and found it stressful,” he admits.
“I made a decision to get it done. I thought why not? I spend more time looking in the mirror now.”
He was asked if he was now more in touch with his feminine side?
He laughed and said: “No, I won’t be like Ronaldo.”
He was still chuckling when he left the room.
The player who had such a wretched World Cup and came back to demand an exit from Old Trafford has re-emerged.
This was a new Rooney in every way.
A new man has certainly emerged from the wreckage of the second half of 2010.
New form and discipline.
New excitement aboutManchester United and England.
Even new hair!
So, when was the transplant of fortune made after he almost turned his back on Manchester United last season?
That stunning bicycle kick goal against City?
“No, it was New Year’s Day,” he said.
“I was just happy to get rid of 2010.
“The best decision of my career was staying at Manchester United. To think, I was close to not being part of what is happening this season.
“I made a mistake and owe every performance and goal to the fans. Winning things and playing with this team is all I ever wanted.
“I can see things happening now. The average age of the team is 22 and the future is exciting.
“What is happening this season is exactly what I wanted. What I dreamed of is what you are seeing now.
“I’m in a happy place on and off the pitch and looking forward to every game.”
Rooney had asked for a transfer, criticised the strength and ambition of the club and was only persuaded at the last moment to stay by Sir Alex Ferguson.
He says, for the club, it wasn’t a lost season because United won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.
Rooney, however, knew he wasn’t right.
Now, after a five-week break and as the central figure in a new-look young United side, he is happy.
“Before, things were just not happening for me,” he says.
“I always knew I would come back and be the same player because that is my character. But when?
“It’s hard when you know you can do things, you try and it doesn’t work. It was tough to come to terms with.
“Now I am playing some of the best football I have done for a long time.
“A lot of people on TV and in the papers criticised me and that helped. It made me angry and I had to prove them wrong.
“I am more experienced and do understand I will have a bad game. It was a tough six months and it’s behind me.”
Rooney knew he had to have time off in the summer to re-charge batteries.
So determined to do nothing he even ignored the holiday fitness programme handed to him by the club.
“The best thing for me was those five weeks when I did nothing at all,” he says.
“I came back for a good pre-season and have started well. I’m looking forward to everything. I was never sick of football and just needed rest.
“I made the decision to do no training on holiday and start pre-season fresh. I ignored the fitness programme although still watched what I ate because I am the type who puts on weight easily.
“I didn’t do anything, running, weights, nothing and only put on a couple of kilos.”
Rooney could not have wished for a better start with United’s new-look team of kids.
It climaxed with Sunday’s 8-2 demolition of Arsenal.
“I didn’t know how it was going to turn out because the manager put his faith in a lot of young players and played them all,” he says.
“They have excelled and here they are in the England squad.”
A great future with club and country is tipped for Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck.
“Everyone should be excited by these players,” adds Rooney.
“When you also look at Daniel Sturridge at Chelsea and Jack Wilshere of Arsenal there is real talent coming through for England.
“They could give England something we haven’t had before, not for 10 years anyway. We have been waiting for this.”
Rooney’s new mood was reflected yesterday. He was relaxed and confident, handling the spotlight off the pitch with the same ease in which he helped thrash Arsenal.
“I should still have scored with that chip,” he added laughing.
He was not even fazed when asked about Sir Alex Ferguson’s attack on the FA.
“There is not much I can say on that,” he says.
“England had nothing to do with me getting banned last season and I am happy to come here and play every time.
“I have apologised about the West Ham incident (when he was banned for swearing into a TV camera) and am moving on.
“There were times in the past when I was probably too aggressive on the pitch and went in for silly challenges. I’m not doing that any more. I feel good and more relaxed.
"I am trying to stay controlled. I believe I can be successful with all the players around me at United. There is a lot of movement and energy. It helps me influence the game more.
“I am trying to be the same player and I haven’t changed what I say or do on the pitch.”
Rooney is only 25 and yet one of the oldest in the United side.
“I am more experienced although I can only help the young ones so much because they have such great ability,” he says.
“It helped some of them to go out on loan and come back better players and more aware tactically.”
Rooney leaves with England tomorrow for Bulgaria and then it’s Wales at home next Tuesday in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
“The only thing missing from my career is winning with England,” he says.
“Our tournament performances have been disappointing.
“It is something I want to put right and with the young lads I am confident we can be successful over the next 10 years.”
And that £20,000 hair transplant?
“I was going bald for a few years and found it stressful,” he admits.
“I made a decision to get it done. I thought why not? I spend more time looking in the mirror now.”
He was asked if he was now more in touch with his feminine side?
He laughed and said: “No, I won’t be like Ronaldo.”
He was still chuckling when he left the room.
The player who had such a wretched World Cup and came back to demand an exit from Old Trafford has re-emerged.
This was a new Rooney in every way.
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