What was Rooney's favourite Manchester derby?
- Published
The Premier League returns this weekend and so does the Manchester derby.
There have been some corkers over the years, but Wayne Rooney's favorite derby day was when Manchester United beat Manchester City 1-0 in the penultimate game of the 2006-07 season.
"Cristiano Ronaldo scored the penalty and the next day we won the league so we almost won the league at the Etihad," said Rooney on The Wayne Rooney Show. "It came down to Chelsea, who played Arsenal the next day and they drew 1-1.
"That was mad because I remember being sat at home and I had literally got my clothes ready to go out. I had a couple of beers watching the game and was thinking 'right if Chelsea don't win then we've won the league'.
"But Chelsea's Dutch centre-back Khalid Boulahrouz got sent off early, so Arsenal went 1-0 up.
"I'm then ironing my clothes and Chelsea equalised with roughly about 10 minutes to go and they hung on.
"We obviously then all met up and went out. But I think we knew if we won that game against City then we won the league. That was the first title I would have won. So I'd say that game is my favourite Manchester derby.
"But I also remember the other one with the Mario Balotelli 'why always me?' top.
"I'm sure it was that game when Ben Foster played and he messed up, and I've never seen the manager go at someone like he did!
"You know where someone's getting it and you feel like saying 'come on, leave him now' but there was no way Ben Foster could have played for United ever again.
"It was a bit too far I think."
Rooney scored one of the most iconic Premier League goals in a derby.
His overhead kick gave them a late 2-1 win in February 2011 and it won the Premier League Goal of the 20 Seasons award in 2012.
"I was so bad in that game," he laughed. "It's one of the worst games I've ever played. I couldn't control a ball.
"I think it's more of an iconic goal because it's the derby, you score and win the game 2-1. But you don't practise overhead kicks."
