Rooney hails Samba style

Stuart Mathieson

March 31, 2008

REDS RUNNING RIOT: Wayne Rooney is mobbed after scoring

UNITED are going to Samba their way to the Premier League title and Moscow.

Wayne Rooney's soccer education and ambitions were enriched and driven by studying Brazil in the 90s.

Now he believes he's living those dreams.

Sir Alex Ferguson's Premier League leaders flew from Manchester to Italy today for tomorrow's game against Roma targeting a quarter-final first leg base from which to launch the assault on the Champions League final in Russia.

The 22-year-old Old Trafford striker sees a mirror image of Brazil in the Reds as they look to clinch a League and European double in the final seven weeks of the season.

"Growing up I used to love watching Brazil and I think the football we are playing now is similar to Brazil," said Rooney.

"It is not hard to play in this team. I love it.

"Roma is a massive game for us but we have prepared in the right way with the win against Aston Villa. We are desperate to win in Italy and we go there with great confidence."

Rooney headed to the Olympic Stadium showdown having ended a personal Old Trafford goal famine that had stretched back 15 matches to October.

But The England forward was quick to pay tribute to the skill of team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored with an audacious back heel.

"Ronaldo's goal was brilliant. He was probably the only player on the pitch who could do that. It was unbelievable."

What team and formation should United play against Roma? Have your say.

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insvenwetrust, Batok (31/03/2008 at 10:27)

is like watching brazillll

blood red, Sydney (31/03/2008 at 11:14)

I wouldn`t mind the same team but with Nani replacing Giggs .Fergie really wants it bad this time and if we win again it wouldn`t surprise me to see him retire on a high.These italians are a arrogent bunch though` so I hope we give them a whipping which we are well capable of if we play to our strengths.Rooney to be our star on the night.

bobbydazzler (31/03/2008 at 11:35)

we would have mullered brazil on saturday

Demo, Glossop (31/03/2008 at 11:55)

we played excellent, fast flowing football. i just hope we play in a similar way in the CL. i say same formation except giggs out, nani in.

Sparkey, Nottingham (31/03/2008 at 11:58)

Manchester United for the title based on these results.

April 6th Boro 0 United 1
April 4th City 1 Chelsea 1

April 13th United 2 Arsenal 0
April 13th Chelsea 4 Wigan 0

April 19th Blackburn 1 United 1

April 26th Chelsea 2 United 0
(United to rest players for possible semi finals of European cup)
May 3rd United 3 West Ham 0

May 11th Wigan 0 United 2

Mark (31/03/2008 at 14:04)

Looks like Nani is injured. I would bring Anderson in for Giggs, and Tevez has to play. Then we need to go at them at their place, non of this caution first. If we get ahead and there is 10 or so minutes left, then we can bring Hargreaves on to tighten it up. It is going to be a difficult game though.

F.Thys, Belgium (31/03/2008 at 15:46)

Sparkey, I hope you are the one who forecasted the CL
QF draw 1 hour before the draw was made.

krutt (31/03/2008 at 16:18)

Wether you like it or not Utd will play with caution in Rome. Expect to see a 5 man midfield with Rooney up top on his own. Personally i would keep the team that started against Villa with Anderson in for Giggs, but what do i know!

Lord Ruud (31/03/2008 at 16:43)

Some interesting predictions there Sparkey. The players will hopefully remain focused for the next 6 games.

I actually think the Boro and Blackburn matches are the most important ones in the run-in. I fancy us to beat Arsenal at home as we are usually up for the big games and that would knock them out of the title race for sure. It is the Bolton and City type teams we seem to switch off against so it is vital we perform against Boro and Blackburn. Ideally we'll go to Chelsea still 5 pts clear and I then believe we could grind out a draw and be 5 ahead with 2 fairly straight forward matches left, meaning we would need just a single point.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (31/03/2008 at 17:34)

I just pray (BobbyD, i know really!! before you say it, that it's pie in the sky) BUT while our team has three great forwards, arguably as good as any current 3 on the planet that SAF lets them go in europe, starting this week. Why all this cagey, crap stuff that doen't work! LET THEM LOOSE & FREE !! lets have all of europe talking about them in the same vein that we do in the PL. Opportunities don't come along like this too often in life! Can you imagine Sir Matt resting one of Best, Law or charlton in order for a more defensive approach?? NO! We won it in 68 (ok dennis was missing) & 99 by playing OUR way ... lets now make it 2007 ! ... or we may just live to regret it!

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (31/03/2008 at 17:35)

KingCantona7, Ashton (31/03/2008 at 20:35)

2 things wrong sparkey, Chelsea will NOT beat us, and City will roll over for Chelsea. We'll do blackburn as well.

Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (31/03/2008 at 20:37)

Si 4 kop,

when Sir Fergie took over the helm at United 400 years ago, his main aim was to knock the (arrogant) Pool off their perch (high horse?)...

now just imagine us playing you lot in the final of the CL in Moscow....

that would be the ultimate fulfillment for Sir Fergie and all the rest of us...

CL Final in Abramovicland,
United 3, Scousers 0!!

UNITED! UNITED!

RVZ, URMSTON (01/04/2008 at 00:24)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY NEVILLE!

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (01/04/2008 at 10:02)

Balders I will put my name to your post thanks.

Demo, Glossop (01/04/2008 at 11:11)

balders you need to stop living in the past we cant win it in 2007 - that was last year mate :) 2008 would be a good year for us tho

JonyB-), North Staffs (01/04/2008 at 11:42)

In '99 i felt there where 3 seminal performances that let us play our way - that gave the management and team the confidenceto do that.....
Barcelona away at the Nou Camp, Juventus away, and thatn Inter Milan at home!! Apart from the 7-1 last season i havent seen a performance that says to me - WE'RE NOT SCARED!.....
Tonight is the timeto put in another Seminal performance that says We're here!!

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (01/04/2008 at 11:51)

sorry Demo, typo! YES lets make it 2008 !!!

Blackley Red, M9, MANCHESTER,ENGLAND (01/04/2008 at 12:50)

Hang on Wayne,

I thought it was City who played like Brazil?

Steve in Brussels (01/04/2008 at 12:57)

I can't say we have looked scared at all in the CL this season (in stark comparison to the last tepid years). In fact we have almost looked like Italians at their defensive best in professional away performances.

We will be up against major vengeance tonight so will be very tough. If we can get a score draw or nick a win i am happy with that. I don't want us to be too gung-ho and then find we come away with a 2-goal defecit.

That said I am confident about the team after the last 2 performances and we have conceded so few goals it is ridiculous. The eyes might be on Roo, Ron & Tevez (if selected) but I suspect that Rio & Vidic will be the ones that really do the biz for us.

Alias Smith, over the moon (01/04/2008 at 13:56)

Steve, very sensible comments, I couldn't agree more.

mufcmart55, UK (01/04/2008 at 16:01)

I think its safe to say that tevez won't start. Fergie has decided upon his preferred European away formation to be 4-5-1 with Rooney as the lone striker and the likes of Anderson, Ronaldo, Scholes and Giggs joining the counter attack.

It's a shame that Nani hasnt travelled due to injury. He is another player who can come on and score or set up an important away goal for us.

I do agree that our defense is where this tie will be won, but with Van der Sar making a return on an important night i can see Roma scoring the first goal as he settles back in. Roma won't know what to do in that situation and we will push for an equaliser in the second half after seeing it through til half time. As a result i'm plumping for a 1-1 draw, Louis Saha to come off the bench and grab the equaliser in the 88th minute.

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