Wayne Rooney claimed he wore longer studs so that he could “hurt someone” in a 2006 Premier League game against Chelsea.
Wayne Rooney has issued a justification for comments made last week where he said he wore longer studs in a 2006 Premier League game against Chelsea to “hurt someone”.
Manchester United played the Blues at Stamford Bridge in 2006, with Jose Mourinho’s side needing just one point to win the Premier League.
And in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Rooney revealed he changed his shoes before the game “so he could hurt someone”.
The Football Association (FA) subsequently contacted the current Derby County boss over his comments, and the 36-year-old has now tried to clarify his comments.
Ahead of the Rams’ trip to Middlesbrough, Rooney said: “I have given my response to the FA as asked and I will wait for what comes back from that.
“What I said to the FA is private, but I’m sure if you look at how I’ve said things, you will have an idea.
“I’ve been very open about my state of mind (on the documentary). That was a feeling.
“I didn’t go onto the pitch and say: ‘Right, I’m going to hurt and injure someone’, that was a feeling I had.
“Obviously I had a tackle with John Terry, which was a good honest 50-50 tackle between two players. No issues.”
Former United and Chelsea boss Mourinho responded to Rooney’s comments and said: “Probably some people will say, ‘Wow, that’s not a very nice thing to do, to feel or to say.’
“But for football people like me we look at it from a different perspective.
“He’s just a young guy who is upset and frustrated, and who doesn’t accept to lose a title for the second time [in a row], which for me means a lot in relation to the character.”
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