Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has admitted that he “hated” hearing one piece of “unfair” criticism during his legendary playing career.
Wayne Rooney had a prolific career at club level and on the international stage, with the former Red Devils star considered one of the best strikers of all time.
The 38-year-old former Manchester United and England striker enjoyed incredible success during his illustrious spell at Old Trafford.
Rooney lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups before he bowed out of United in 2017.
The ex-England star also became United’s all-time leading scorer after surpassing the record previously held by club legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
Despite his lack of major silverware for the Three Lions, Rooney had a glittering run with England and served as captain for his country.
The former England striker also overtook Sir Bobby Charlton as the Three Lions’ all-time scorer before Harry Kane surpassed Rooney’s record.
Rooney on criticism he hated hearing
Wayne Rooney was capped 120 times for England and scored an impressive 53 times while representing the Three Lions.
The Manchester United legend, who made his England debut in 2003, represented his country at multiple World Cup and European Championships.
But Rooney came under criticism during his time in an England shirt, including when he took aim at Three Lions supporters after a 0-0 draw against Algeria in 2010.
England failed to break the deadlock against Algeria at the 2010 World Cup and Rooney lashed out at England fans who booed the team as they left the pitch.
Speaking in his column for The Times, Rooney insisted that he “hated” when he heard the criticism that England players didn’t care about playing for their country.
The former United and England captain added that there was “no worse” or “more unfair” accusation to make about a Three Lions player.
“By far the criticism I hated most during my time was that England players don’t care,” Rooney said.
“There could be no worse — or more unfair — accusation. Let the journalists in, let them see how much we want to win, and once they’re on the inside they’ll do positive pieces rather than guess what’s going on — that was my take.”
Rooney on shifting perception around England players
Rooney revealed that he spoke with previous England managers, from Sam Allardyce to Gareth Southgate, about changing the narrative around the players.
The former United striker claimed that he wanted to “build more trust with the press” and allow them to know the players “properly.”
“Our relationship with the press still needed some work,” he said.
“At our hotel in Chantilly, a lovely place near the racecourse, we had a long-running darts competition and the journalists kept asking and asking about that. It quickly became boring. I was, like, ‘What’s this got to do with anything? What difference does it make if I’ve beaten James Milner at darts or whatever?’
“When Sam Allardyce succeeded Roy, I told him there had to be changes in our relations with the media, and I had the same conversation with Gareth Southgate when he succeeded Sam.
“At a Football Writers’ dinner the following January, I made a speech on the same theme — my view was that we had to build more trust with the press and let them get to know us properly.”