Manchester United manager David Moyes calls on in-form striker Wayne Rooney to score a brace in season's first Manchester derby tonight
Manchester United manager david Moyes has called on in-form striker wayne Rooney to deliver the goods against rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Man Utd’s Wayne Rooney is all smiles during the UEFA Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford recently. Pic/AFP
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On Tuesday night, after Rooney’s brace saw United saw him attain the 200-goal mark in the 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Moyes said: “Wayne’s worked hard and is showing exactly what he can do. If Wayne could score another two goals at the weekend (against Man City) that would be the next step forward. I’m asking him to step up again.”
Yesterday, Moyes continued his praise for Rooney. He told MUTV: “When I came, (to Man Utd) I thought he had gone a bit soft. I thought he had to get back to being a bit more aggressive. We are challenging him to be that at the moment because when he is, he is a handful to play against.
“This is a big year for him with the World Cup and he would say, by his standards, last season wasn’t (his) best season. He has set out his own stall to say he is going to improve on that.” Rooney goes into Sunday’s clash as the leading United scorer in Manchester derbies and needs just one goal to become the outright top scorer in the fixture’s history.
Speaking about the derby, Rooney said: “They're all big games. Obviously, United and Liverpool has been a massive game over the years. City have had their success recently but I would probably say that United and Liverpool is still the biggest game.”
Last 5 Manchester derbies...
April 8, ’13: Man Utd 1-2 Man City
Man United were marching towards their 20th EPL crown but City made a point at Old Trafford. Sergio Aguero scored a fine winner after James Milner’s opening strike was cancelled out by a Vincent Kompany-own goal.
Dec 9, ’12: Man City 2-3 Man Utd
Robin van Persie’s deflected late free-kick handed Manchester United a win that took them six points clear at the top of the EPL, an advantage that City were unable claw back. City had fought back through Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta after Rooney had given United a 2-0 lead, but the fightback proved in vain.
April 30, ’12: Man City 1-0 Man Utd
Kompany’s crucial header put City back in control of the title race at the Etihad Stadium. City, who were trailing United by six points with six games remaining, moved top on goal difference with two to play.
Jan 8, ’12: Man City 2-3 Man Utd
United won this FA Cup third round tie against a 10-man City. Wayne Rooney scored first, followed by Danny Welbeck before City skipper Kompany was controversially sent off. Rooney made it 3-0 before City’s Aleksandar Kolarov and Aguero scored one each.
Oct 23, ’11: Man Utd 1-6 Man City
City roared early in what proved to be their title-winning year by registering their biggest win at Old Trafford since 1955. Mario Balotelli struck twice and Sergio Aguero added a third. Darren Fletcher scored for United, before Edin Dzeko added two more and David Silva scored City’s sixth goal.
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