Rooney: I Envy Gerrard
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Wayne Rooney has confessed that Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League triumph is motivation enough as he seeks to win the trophy for Manchester United.
The Merseysiders claimed one of the most famous victories in the history of European football when they came from 3-0 down at half time to defeat AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul.
The architect of Liverpool’s resurrection was Steven Gerrard, who scored one goal and created the other two in what will be remembered as an epic individual display.
And Rooney admits that watching Gerrard lead The Reds to victory was a bitter pill to swallow.
"It was hard for me seeing Steven Gerrard below with the European Cup," said the ex-Everton striker.
"I know it was good for English football – and the fact that four Premier League teams have reached the quarter-finals this year shows how strong the game is in this country.
"But I was an Everton fan as a kid so of course I wasn't too pleased when Liverpool won the Champions League."
And Rooney admits that part of his motivation in moving to Old Trafford was to have a chance at levelling the score by matching Liverpool’s Champions League triumph, although he insists that the Premier League remains United's first and foremost priority.
"Winning trophies like the European Cup and the Premier League was the reason I joined Manchester United,” he said. “I won the League last year and to win the Champions League would be another major achievement.
"I think as a club we should have won it more than we have done and hopefully we can all contribute to that this season.
"But for me personally, being champions of England is massive. It was what I grew up watching so, yeah, the Premier League is the main one for me." -
he too can lead us to glory!