Wayne Rooney wouldn’t want a Premier League winners’ medal from 2012 if Manchester City were stripped of the title, insisting Manchester United didn’t deserve to finish above their crosstown rivals.
United thought they had wrapped the crown up 14 years ago after their 1-0 win at Sunderland on the final day. City had to beat QPR to pip them but were 2-1 down when the whistle went at the Stadium of Light. The United players were poised to celebrate only for last-gasp goals from Edin Dzeko and, memorably, Sergio Aguero to spark pandemonium at the Etihad.
The subsequent claim that City have broken 114 financial rules has led to calls for them to lose all the titles accrued over the affected period, including the 2012 title.
That could mean United are gifted another Premier League trophy and Rooney’s former team-mates Rio Ferdinand and David De Gea have both suggested it is right that their personal medal hauls are increased.
Rooney – United didn’t deserve to win the league
But Rooney is adamant the City players should not be punished for alleged indiscretions at board level.
Speaking on Stick To United, he said: “I have heard Rio has come out saying about getting another Premier League medal… I wouldn’t really feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal, if I’m being honest.
“I don’t think we deserve it, we didn’t do enough that season to win the league. I think we were six or seven points clear with four or five games to go and we threw it away.
“I’ve seen everything that has come out over the past few days and listening to people and I was putting myself in a Man City player’s shoes… they’re players, they’re doing everything they can to try and win the Premier League title and in their mind they have done it, those players have no understanding of what is going on above them, if that happened to me… I would be absolutely devastated.
“It might happen, they might take them [medals] away, but I wouldn’t want it [a medal] because I don’t think as a team we deserved it that year because obviously we didn’t finish first.”
I’m happy with my five titles – Rooney
The Premier League have yet to confirm City have been found guilty – the story was broken by the Athletic last Friday – and there is no clarity on the sanctions the club could face.
Rooney added: “I see team-mates saying ‘I want a medal’, I’m happy with the five I’ve won. I wouldn’t want this one. Should they get it stripped for what the owners have done? Yeah maybe, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting it.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
