Rooney: I'm Staying at United

From: http://www.thesun.co.uk/

All smiles ... Sir Alex Ferguson and Wayne Rooney today

Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

WAYNE Rooney has performed a dramatic U-turn and is STAYING at Manchester United.

The England striker agreed a new five-year deal after crunch talks with United boss Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill persuaded him his future is at Old Trafford.
Video here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/video/

Rooney will remain with the Red Devils until at least June 2015 - much to the relief of Ferguson.

The Scot said: "It's been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United.

"I said to the boy that the door is always open and I'm delighted Wayne has agreed to stay.

Staying put ... Coleen Rooney

"Sometimes, when you're in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand.

"I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.

"I'm pleased he has accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United's great players. It shows character and belief in what we stand for.

"I'm sure everyone involved with the club will now get behind Wayne and show him the support he needs to produce the performances we know he is capable of."

Rooney, 24, who had announced he would be leaving the club, said: "I'm delighted to sign another deal at United.

"In the last couple of days, I've talked to the manager and the owners and they've convinced me this is where I belong.

"I said on Wednesday the manager's a genius and it's his belief and support that have convinced me to stay.

"I'm signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history — which is the reason I joined the club in the first place.

"I'm sure the fans over the last week have felt let down by what they've read and seen, but my position was from concern over the future.

"The fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived and it's up to me through my performances to win them over again."

Yesterday, more than 40 supporters angry at his decision to leave descended on the star's home as he enjoyed a night in with wife Coleen and their baby son Kai.

Rooney's Home Stormed by Mob

Fury ... protesting fans gather outside Wayne Rooney's house

Ray Bradbury

By RICHARD MORIARTY
From: http://www.thesun.co.uk/

 

AN angry mob of balaclava-clad Man United fans stormed Wayne Rooney's home last night, demanding to know why he wants to leave. The striker called cops.

Fans who gathered outside carried a sinister banner warning: "Sign for City and you're dead."

Threatened ... Wayne Rooney

Paul Cousans

The protesters - from Manchester United's notorious Men In Black "firm" - planned to plant the sign outside the wantaway Red Devil's £4million mansion.

But police arrived to disperse the demonstration before they were able to do it.

United fans fear the England striker, 25 on Sunday, could sign for their arch local rivals Man City after insisting he wants to leave Old Trafford - accusing the club of lacking ambition.

Scary ... mob gather outside gates to Rooney's £4m Cheshire mansion

CPP

More than 40 supporters descended on the star's home as he enjoyed a night in with wife Coleen and their baby son Kai.

Arriving in a convoy of cars, they buzzed repeatedly on the footballer's intercom - telling him to come out and face them.

One said through the speaker grille: "We want to talk to you, Wayne. We want you to explain the real reason you want to leave. We're not going to hurt you."

Rooney saw the mob outside his home in Prestbury, Cheshire, at 8.30pm last night and refused to answer the door.

Order restored ... cops disperse crowd as security guards move in

Ray Bradbury

He dialled 999 and alerted United's private security firm CES. Eight cops arrived within ten minutes and threatened to arrest the fans for public order offences unless they dispersed.

Honest

Rooney watched the drama from an upstairs window. He and his family were left unhurt but shaken. Officers went indoors to speak with him. Last night six security men were standing guard.

Target ... Rooney faced demo

A police source said: "Rooney saw the fans on the camera by his gate and around the front of his property and called security.

"Officers arrived and told the fans they'd made their point and threatened them with arrest."

The invasion resembled a scene from 2009 movie Looking For Eric in which a gang of fans wearing masks of United legend Eric Cantona burst into a thug's house.

And it echoed the incident when a balaclava-wearing group turned up at team-mate Rio Ferdinand's house after he delayed signing a new deal in May 2005.

Last night the mob's leader, who refused to be named, said: "We don't believe what Rooney said about his reasons for leaving the club. We want answers.

"The club is struggling for money but it was struggling for money four months ago - so what's changed?

"He has got himself in a mess in his private life and we understand if he wants to run away abroad, but the least we deserve is that he's honest with us.

"If he joins City it's going to go off and he'll be seeing us again."

Another fan said: "We're not here to scare him - we're fans, not thugs. But I can tell Wayne one thing, he wants to forget joining City. That really wouldn't be a good thing to do."

No arrests were made. In 2002 David Beckham was barracked by members of the Men In Black in Budapest after United were beaten by lowly Hungarians Zalaegerszeg.

The gang name originates from a 1989 clash with die-hard West Ham fans in London.

Earlier yesterday Rooney was blasted by his own team-mates over his claims he was quitting because United lacked ambition.

Senior stars were said to have suggested the striker should never play for United again.

Rooney was shunned as he arrived grim-faced at the club's Carrington training ground for treatment to his injured ankle.

Meanwhile manager Sir Alex Ferguson, 68, spent three hours meeting chief executive David Gill for talks about the player's future.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher - a pal of Rooney's - said: "High-profile players have left in the past but the club itself just keeps going."

Rooney, contracted until 2012, claimed United failed to give him "assurances" about the future quality of the squad.

A club statement last night said: "There are no developments of note to report today."

Ex-England boss Graham Taylor, 66, last night said Rooney would need protection "for the rest of his life" if he joined City.

Manchester Goalie Uses iPod during Game to Study Opponent

11:55 AM, March 3, 2009

Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster, a 26-year-old who plays for one of England’s top soccer teams, has the sports world debating whether it's fair to use an iPod as a competitive edge during a match.

Faced with the always difficult task of defending penalty kicks when Sunday's game went to shootout, a well-prepared Foster whipped out his iPod to study the tendencies of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara.

Foster watched video of a kick O’Hara took against Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven last year that suggested O'Hara liked to strike the ball to the left of the goalkeeper. He made the same move against Foster, who dove and blocked the shot.

Manchester United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele recommended the digital assist, but it was Foster who took home player-of-the-match honors.

"They told me for Jamie O'Hara I should stand up and be strong, and he would probably go the way he did," Foster told reporters after the game. "I have done a lot of research before, but this is an innovation we have brought in at the club."

The rules of soccer, both in England and at the international level, don’t say much about the use of technology -- let alone an iPod -- by players during matches. British soccer's governing body, the Football Assn., ruled that because there was nothing inherently dangerous about Foster’s tactic, there would be no disciplinary action.

It's not hard to imagine professional and national soccer teams throughout the world now loading videos of their opponents on iPods to prep their goalkeepers.

-- Jerry Hirsch