The Wayne Rooney to Chelsea story continues to rumble on,
and while it seems that United don't want to see the striker leave, the player
himself appears to be keen. Should the Red Devils really be worried about
selling the England international?
Cast your mind back to the 2007/08 season. The Red Devils
ended the campaign with a memorable double, lifting not only the Premier League
title, but their third ever European Cup, appropriately in the current context
coming after a penalty shootout victory over Chelsea. While Wayne Rooney's 18
goals in all competitions were nothing to be smirked at, particularly
considering the injuries that plagued his early season, there is no doubt that
United's team that year was built around Cristiano Ronaldo. A sensational 42
goals in all competitions from the Portuguese forward led the Red Devils to
European and domestic glory, with his displays far overshadowing that of his
English team-mate (and Carlos Tevez).
The following season, in 2008/09, it was more of the
same. A Ronaldo-led United lifted a third successive Premier League, won the
League Cup and Club World Cup and fell at the final hurdle in the Champions
League. The Portuguese forward notched up a still impressive 26 goals, while
Rooney, though scoring 20 of his own, was rarely the focal point of the attack,
often being pushed out wide or used as a utility player. Indeed, it was Ronaldo
who scored crucial goals in the league against Tottenham and Aston Villa, as
well as an incredible strike against Porto in a crunch Champions League
fixture, followed by a brace in the last four demolition of Arsenal.
The lasting memory of that period between 2007 and 2009
is that of Ronaldo's brilliance en route to several major trophy wins, not
Wayne Rooney's. The Englishman made a strong contribution, but was undoubtedly
overshadowed by his team-mate. So what happened when Ronaldo moved to the
Bernabeu in the summer of 2009?
Well, United finally built their team around Rooney and
the Englishman responded with an astonishing 34 goals in all competitions, yet
ultimately, his team had little to show for it. Beaten to the Premier League
title by Chelsea, the Red Devils lacked the consistent dominance they had
displayed in the latter Ronaldo years. That was further proven when they were
knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-final by a Bayern team far
less effective than the one that bestrode Europe in 2013 and, indeed, a Bayern
that was easily picked apart by Jose Mourinho's Inter in the 2010 final.
Rooney's wish to have the team built around him was obliged, but though he
scored plenty of goals, it seemed to work to the detriment of United's overall
effectiveness. Was it simply a case of him being more effective for the team as
a strong supporting player, as he had been with Cristiano Ronaldo, than as the
main man? Later events add weight to that theory.
The following year, in 2010/11, Rooney's scoring reduced
significantly. With 16 goals at the end of the campaign, only 11 came in the
league, but United emerged as champions despite his diminished contribution.
Far from bring the main man in the Premier League for the Red Devils that year,
the real hero was Dimitar Berbatov, with 20 of the Bulgarian's 21 goals that
year coming in the title race. Though oft maligned by United supporters,
Berbatov's ability to hold the ball up, pick out a pass and dribble, allowing
his team time to recover, was key to much of what United did well that year.
In the Champions League final that year, Berbatov was
omitted entirely, and though Rooney would find the net, United were utterly
outclassed by Barcelona. Would Berbatov's ability to keep the ball have allowed
United a brief breather against Barca, and, moreover, have allowed Rooney to
play a more effective second half? It's worth asking.
In 2011/12, Rooney was back to being United's key threat.
Having snubbed Berbatov in the Champions League final the season before, Sir
Alex Ferguson reduced the Bulgarian to nothing more than a back-up player, and
with Wayne Rooney established as the true focal point of the team once more,
his goals tally returned to his previous best of 34. Yet, like the 2009/10
season, Rooney's sackful of strikes ultimately meant very little for United.
The Red Devils lost the Premier League title to their city rivals on the final
day of the season, while they were humiliated in the Champions League by
finishing third in the group stage, before being roundly thumped by Athletic
Bilbao in the Europa League last 16. Once again, Rooney had plenty of personal
accolades to comfort himself, but his team had nothing of real worth in terms
of trophies. Ferguson's response was a now familiar one.
The Scot answered the United downturn by bringing in
Robin van Persie and, as he had done in the past, reducing Wayne Rooney's
influence on the team. The result was 30 goals in all competitions from the
Dutchman, 26 of which arrived in the league, and an unprecedented 20th Premier
League title. Wayne Rooney's goals tally dipped yet again, this time halving to
16, but with Rooney working as a squad player rather than the key man, United
lifted their main goal of the season, the Premier League title.
So what does the above tell us? Looking at the facts, it
is clear that Manchester United have won more trophies when Wayne Rooney has
not been the dominant influence on the team. In the Robin van Persie and
Cristiano Ronaldo years, that meant Champions League and Premier League glory.
Though Dimitar Berbatov's excellent campaign in 2010/11 will not be remembered
on the same level as the ones from Van Persie or Ronaldo, the quality displays
produced by the Bulgarian that season clearly took much of the burden off of
Wayne Rooney's shoulders. Most importantly, the result was another Premier
League trophy.
Rooney's two 34 goals seasons may have been spectacular
to watch at the time, but in the future, people will look back at the United
record books and notice the scarcity of major trophies. Silverware is
everything for a club of United's stature and that is won by having the right
balance in a team. As good as Rooney has been for United, the evidence suggests
they are better when he is not the top dog, adding credence to David Moyes'
claim that Rooney should be viewed as back up for Van Persie.
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