Ex-Man Utd star's Wayne Rooney admission speaks volumes after Tom Brady criticism
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargraves has leapt to the defence of Wayne Rooney following NFL Icon Tom Brady's scathing feedback of the ex-England striker's work ethic
Former Manchester United star Owen Hargreaves has claimed that Wayne Rooney was one of many hardest staff he's ever performed with. The ex-England star's feedback fly within the face of the remarks made by NFL legend Tom Brady, who not too long ago criticised Rooney's work ethic.
Rooney was given the boot by Birmingham Metropolis, the place Brady is a part-owner, after simply 83 disastrous days in cost in January 2024. The seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion questioned Rooney's utility to his place as supervisor in a documentary that adopted Brady's involvement with Birmingham.
Following a go to to the membership's coaching floor in November 2023, Brady let slip that he was "slightly anxious about our head coach's work ethic". Whereas Rooney has responded to the feedback himself, he has been backed by Hargreaves, who performed with Rooney at United from 2007-2011.
Talking on That Peter Crouch podcast, the ex-Bayern Munich star was requested who was higher in coaching out of Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney, with the Liverpudlian remarkably simply edging it over the participant who's thought to be one of many best of all time.
"What an incredible query," Hargreaves started. "I'm certain Cristiano would disagree however Wazza [Rooney] was insane. Peak Wazza. Prime Wazza was like a hybrid, he was loopy."
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Addressing Brady's claims in August, on his self-titled podcast, Rooney slammed the feedback as "unfair. He mentioned "I believe Tom got here in as soon as, which was the day earlier than a sport the place the times are slightly bit lighter anyway, and I don't suppose he actually understood soccer that nicely.
"However what he does perceive is, he's a tough employee, we all know that. Soccer will not be NFL – NFL works for 3 months a yr. Gamers do want relaxation as nicely, so I believe he's very unfair, the best way he's come out and portrayed that."
Knighthead Capital Administration LLC launched a takeover of Birmingham again in June 2023. Brady joined two months later, and simply 4 months on, the brand new possession changed supervisor John Eustace with Rooney.
Nonetheless, Rooney's spell was ill-fated to say the least. He lasted simply 15 matches earlier than being sacked with the crew twentieth within the desk.
"After I went into Birmingham, they have been in a large number actually," mentioned Rooney on his stint. "Therefore the truth that the gamers weren't actually the gamers who might take the membership ahead."
4 managers, together with Tony Mowbray, stepped in with little success earlier than Chris Davies was later put in as head coach. The Blues completed prime of League One in 2024-25 underneath Davies, incomes promotion to the Championship.
Regardless of the previous New England Patriots star's harsh critique, Rooney selected to stay diplomatic moderately than hit again on the star.
"Hear, I respect Tom Brady massively," mentioned Rooney. "He's one of many best, if not the best athletes of all time and Birmingham do appear to be they're getting it proper now, which is nice and I believe what they’ve executed is bought the gamers out that they wanted to get out."
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