In another behind-closed doors interview, Wayne Rooney reiterated that his long term future is with Manchester United.
However, it was his worry about how he was going to be perceived by the supporters, which will steel all the headlines, because Rooney admitted that he feared the backlash from the supporters after his highly-publicized contract dispute.
Even though he spoke quite fondly of the club during the staged interview, Rooney still has a long road ahead him before he begins to hear his name echoed through the rafters of Old Trafford again.
Since his startling change of the heart to sign a new-and-improved five-year contract, it should come as no surprise that he has done only two interviews – both with United reporters.
This has to be down to Sir Alex Ferguson “recommending” that Rooney does not do any interviews with the ABU (Anybody But United) media to cause any more unneeded, disruptive controversies to affect United’s ambitions this season.
Before his status-spoiling statement that he wanted to leave Manchester United – which came just two hours before a crucial UEFA Champions League match – Rooney comically claimed that he did not know why he was not playing and that he was not injured, and that certainly did not sit well with the Gaffer.
This will prove to be a bit of a challenge for the vociferous forward, because Rooney has always been known to give his ill-advised thoughts in the heat of the moment.
The fit-again forward is now on the verge of making his first start since the end of September, so it was fitting that he did a sit down interview with the club in attempt to start earning back the respect of the once-adoring United fans.
It is no secret that Sir Alex is not only the manager of the club, but one of its biggest supporters as well, so if he can forgive Wayne then shouldn’t we all?
There is only one way for him to get back into the good graces of the supporters, and that is to start banging in the goals at an alarming rate, which hopefully begins against Rangers.
It will be highly unlikely that Rooney will ever regain the cult-hero status he held prior to his earth-shattering news that he wanted to leave the club, but stranger things have happened, though.
Upon signing that contract, Ferguson stated that Rooney did not realize the repercussions of his actions and how they would be portrayed amongst the supporters, but whether that was down to plain ignorance remains to be scene.
It is quite amazing, how he would not be at all taken back, because those people who subjected him to those unkindly acts also embraced him like he was their only son.
By now, everyone that does not live under a rock heard about the passionate, but crazed hooligans who showed up outside of his fenced-in mansion, which was paid for by their hard-earned money spent on tickets and memorabilia to see him, after they learned about the rumor that he was potentially going to sign for Manchester City.
His return received a mixed reaction from the Old Trafford crowd during his 30+ minute cameo, but Rooney will do his tarnished reputation no harm when he does find the back of the net.
It has been well-documented that Old Trafford has become a stadium that houses some of the world’s most fair-weather fans, which could be the reason why the response varied from jeers to cheers – and vice versa.
A lot of the die-hard supporters will hold definite grudges against Rooney for turning the back on the club that they eat, sleep and breathe for, but all COULD be forgotten if he leads United to some shining pieces of silverware at season’s end.
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that the press will never know the truth to the behind-the-scenes negotiations between Manchester United and Wayne Rooney, and without them being privy to that knowledge the supporters will be left in the dark as well.
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