The Red Devils landed the Premier League and Champions League last season, and the star of the show was undoubtedly Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward often overshadowed his team-mates in terms of goals scored and created, including a certain England striker who certainly wasn’t on top form for Manchester United last season.
Indeed, although Pele has been renowned for making ill-informed comments for many years, the Brazilian legend might have a point when he claims that Wayne Rooney hasn’t hit the heights of Euro 2004 again. There’s no doubt that he’s still a class act, although how many matches did he really stand out in last season? The Daily Mirror reports that Wayne should curb his enthusiasm if he is to realise greatness.
“I like Wayne Rooney, but he hasn’t reached the peak of Euro 2004 again,” said Pele. “He had two or three very good years and then lost a little bit in his performances. I don’t know why.
“When he’s tangling with opponents, Rooney has to learn how to defend himself – not attack the opponent.”
Many might be questioning whether Rooney still has the same appetite for the game, especially as he has now become an A-list celebrity, with his stag do, wedding and honeymoon pictures slapped all over the place. Does the young striker need to prove himself at Old Trafford this season, cutting out the yellow cards in the process?