Wayne Rooney insists he wants his former Manchester United club to bow to Derby County on Thursday.
Red Devils legend will be captain of Rams when they welcome Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad for FA Cup quarter-final spot – with a full commentary on the LIVE fifth round tie on talkSPORT!
Rooney, who is the top scorer of all time with 253 goals, has won five Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and three League Cup titles in a 13 year period at Old Trafford between 2004 and 2017.
After spending the 2017/18 campaign at Everton’s childhood club, Rooney joined MLS DC United, before returning to England with Derby in January.
Now Rooney and Derby will seek to upset the FA Cup at Pride Park.
“Manchester United is a club I love,” Rooney said in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT. “I loved my stay there.
“But for those 90 or 120 minutes, whatever, I want them to lose.
“After the match, I will become a fan again. If you are a Manchester United fan, I am sure they would like to hear the same from their players who have been in other clubs.
“Football is a game where the players leave the clubs and, of course, I spent a lot of time at Manchester United. I come back and watch the games.
“But for this one, I want Derby to win and that doesn’t take away my feelings for Manchester United.”
Rooney, playing as a midfielder, has scored four goals and created two more since his Derby debut in January.
The 34-year-old said he was still destined to face United when the two clubs reserved their places in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
“It would always happen,” added England’s top scorer. “It was always going to be Manchester United or Chelsea, obviously with Frank [Lampard, who left Derby to manage Chelsea], as well as.
“We got Manchester United, they will be the favorites to win, but we will try to cause upheaval.”
Although he has played in two Champions League finals and been involved in close matches for the Premier League title, Rooney feels the same pressure playing for Derby at the second level.
The Rams have an outside chance of qualifying for the Championship playoffs – they are eight points behind the top six with 10 games left.
Rooney added, “It’s not less pressure. I’m captain of Derby County and we’re trying hard to get into the Premier League.
“I put pressure on myself to help them do that, I put pressure on my teammates to try to do that.
“Although I am not looking for Premier League or Champions League titles, the pressure remains.
“There are targets we want to reach as a club.”
When asked if he would celebrate if he scored against the Red Devils, Rooney said, “Sure, I’m a player from County Derby.
“I know this game means a lot to the fans, to the players, to the staff here, and of course I’m going to celebrate.”
Listen to the full Wayne Rooney exclusive interview with talkSPORT, above…