Why Rangers BOOED Him & Meeting Maradona

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1:07It is representative variable, requires no minimum and is earned on funds swept to Program Banks. Loosed up to$150 ,000. Cash account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, not a bank. Still to this day, that game, I think it's the best individual performance I've ever seen or ever played in. All the manager said to me was, when we lose the world, get back and double up. I'm Cristiano, so I literally, that's all I've done the whole game. It was that evening, actually. I went to Wings restaurant after the game. He stole my tracksuit and went in. Maradona was in there. He had the suit on full suit tie.

1:39And then he gave me his tie. Today's episode of The Wayne Rooney Show focuses on European grounds and some of the memorable European nights that Wayne encountered during his career. And, Wayne, there's a fair few that we're going to talk about. There's a fair few you could have picked from. when you look back what kind of makes a really good European night for you? When you win obviously no the European nights are always special and different and for different reasons whether it's the atmosphere you're playing in or whether that's the team of the opponent who you're playing against and and then what stage of the competition you're at so yeah it depends what you're taking into account and what makes it a special evening.

2:27Normally it is when you win, but there are moments when you've lost and you go to places and you're like, wow, that was a special occasion. Is there a different buzz around the dressing room when you're playing a Champions League game? Like the build-up on a day and whatever? Yeah. Because I always think when you hear the music, that must be mad. And also going away from home, like you're playing some... Yeah, when you go away and then you're flying, obviously you're getting your suit on to fly, and then there's certain places where you go and there's fireworks getting let off the night before the game outside the hotel trying to put you off and different things like that.

3:01So yeah, it's a different feel, a different atmosphere and especially when you get late into the competition and it's all big games. So you've got, remember there's times where we played Milan away or we've played away in big games and then we've got Chelsea. We played Barstona away in the Nou Camp, sorry. Then we come back and we had Chelsea in the Premier League. then we have Barcelona again so it's a big game so your focus has to be key to playing all them big games in a short period of time When there was young players in the squad did you kind of have to almost prepare them or tell them not to be over rule because there must be an element of people of like Kay and I off camera were talking about the San Siro and the excitement that comes around it young players maybe sometimes could be swallowed up by it maybe?

3:49You could but I think it depends on you as an individual I remember we played Roma the way. I must have been 18, 19, something like that. And I was captain. We'd already qualified for the next stage. So I was captain against Roma the way. But at that time, the captain had to take the warm-up. So I was more nervous at taking the warm-up than it was the game. So it was, yeah, you can and different players. We played a young team. I think PK played in that game. Johnny Evans played centre-back. So we actually had a really young team and we scored early on. So me warm-up must have been a good one.

4:28You took all the credit, did you? Yeah. Let's go through then, because I'm going to give you some kind of headlines, some titles, and I want you to think of which game from your career fits that. So let's start with your first big away night in Europe. First big away night? There was a few. I'd probably say the biggest one early on. We weren't that early on, but it was the 2007 semi-final with the Sancero against AC Milan. Now, we played them, I think, a couple of years before that. But this was a big game. We won the first leg 3-2. And then we go to the Sancero, and then you look at the team.

5:10They had... Gatou, Solé. Cafu, Maldini, Nesta, Seydorf, Shevchenko. Crespo, was it? Kaka, Gattuso, they had such an unbelievable team. So going there with a lead, we were confident that we could win the game. And then I remember we were warming up and it's got two tunnels to Santero. And we come out of the corner and we warm up and AC Milan went out here. And then all of a sudden the light turned off as we're on the pitch warming up. And we will rock you, come on. and Gattuso just sprinted right through our half where we were one up into the opposition half into their big stand and fans were going mad and then you had all the other players just jogging out behind them and stuff so it was intimidating and then we lost a game 3-0 and still to this day that's one of the best performances I've ever played in from a team they were incredible What's it like when you're lining up against a team like that and you're seeing somebody with big names as well?

6:12These players I've watched growing up and to be playing against them and you know Maldini and Seedorf and some of these players and you know you've been watching them since I was a young boy and so to be playing against them obviously I did the week before and then I scored two in the leg before I scored the winner in the last minute so then to go there to the Santero and feel that atmosphere and you think back to some of the special nights in the Santero in AC Milan's history to then be there and playing in such a big game of semi-final of Champions League and you're one step away from the final and if you get the final you've got Liverpool in the final.

6:57It was all mad. Were you thinking about that? Yeah, you obviously always think about it. I can't remember if it was a possibility or it was Liverpool because they had Chelsea in the other semi-final. So you knew it was a possibility you're going to have Liverpool or Chelsea in the final. and so yeah it was we were probably just a little bit young and it didn't have that experience at Champions League level at that time myself and Ronaldo Fletch and that was a good learning learning curve for us still to this day that game I think it's the best individual performance I've ever seen or ever played against was Seydorf really incredible when you're on the pitch and with someone obviously known Seydorf in his career he's won so many trophies and he was a fantastic player.

7:42He still looks in good condition now. You work with him sometimes. Yeah, he's a great lad. But that performance, honestly... What was it like? Because obviously technically he was insane, but physically he looked like... Yeah, he's about my height, isn't he? He's strong, he's quick, both feet. So his performance that day was honestly the best of for him. Was that... Oh, was it? From individual players. Were you thinking that as you're on the field as well? Yeah, I was I say to him now, I'm saying, you should have had something. In the first leg, you could hear them breathing. I always remember Nesta and Maldini.

8:20I could hear them breathing heavy after 10 minutes. And in the second leg, they were cruising. And I was like, how is this so different? But no, it was an intimidating evening. And probably an iconic performance from them. Because that was a midfield pairing of what was it? Gattuso, him. Gattuso, Seiko. And then Kakar as well. Kaka is a 10. Shefyanko, Krespo, Maldini. What was Gattuso like for you in that game? Gattuso was brilliant. All he done, every time Gattuso went forward, he just filled in. So Gattuso would go and Gattuso would fill in. Because he had a bit of a reputation at the time for it.

9:00It was quite combative, right? Yeah. I'm trying to find out politically correct. No, no, but he didn't have the ability, Seidoff did or Kakadu but his role in that game we played Ronaldo off the left is every time Kaffee went he just sat there and waited and filled in for him so when Ronaldo got the ball he was on him and he'd taken Ronaldo down and he'd marshaled Ronaldo off the game really so it was for them I think it was a perfect performance OK let's move on to your most hostile ground Rangers Rangers away in 2010 Why is that? it was well i played there for everton in a pre-season game and i'm a big celtic fan and then i went i went to ibrox um to watch the old firm to watch celtic came there so i sat in the celtic end so i think they obviously were aware of that as well and so when we went in 2010 and they they battered me I had come off it was not long I think after I'd asked to leave Manchester United and then I'd signed so I was under pressure as well to perform and United again and then it was we got a penalty so I've scored it and went off celebrating but yeah it was a real hostile performance I felt it against me normally you feel it against the team but I felt it against What was your celebration?

10:33I ran off and just slid and laid on my back. Were you expecting that hostile atmosphere when you went there? Yeah. You knew you'd annoyed them. Yeah. Because I was getting... Back then, it was when I was using Twitter quite a bit as well, and I was getting hammered on Twitter. Those are the good old days. You need to get back on, man. And all that, so... Yeah, so I was expecting it. But still, when you get there... and the stadium again you go in like the brick around the stadium and and this was like Scottish football I mean people look at Scottish football now and they have like a certain view of it but at the time it was still they were still quite competitive in Europe at times Celtic in particular and listen I think it's well known all I've put out there than I'm a Celtic fan and it's probably one of my regrets not playing for Celtic at some point really interesting

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12:38Okay your most iconic ground? It has to be the Bernabeu Real Madrid playing in the Inter-Real Madrid I think it was 2013 I think it was. I remember we played, I played off the right, I played right wing, we played Danny Wilbeck off Van Persie, I think it was. And Ronaldo was playing off the left and... What's the Portuguese guy, the left-back? Controut, was it? Oh, yeah, Fabio Controut. Yeah, he was playing left-back, I think it was. And all the manager said to me was, when we lose the ball, get back and double up on Cristiano. So, literally, that's all I've done the whole game. It was chase Controut back and double up on Cristiano.

13:23Sounds fun. Yeah, so it was a tough game. But to play there, I've played there for England as well. I got subbed at half-time in that game. But, yeah, to play there, we got a good result. Danny Welbeck scored ahead of it. I crossed the corner. Welbeck scored and we drew the game 1-1. He'd always performed well against Romain. But to play at the Bernabéu and Real Madrid, I think such an iconic club, was massive. But then the return, look at that, actually. We were in the dressing room like 90 minutes before the game and Alex Ferguson pulled me in and told me I was going to be on the bench, which I was fuming with, because I played that position, I'd done a job for the team, helped us get a good draw away from home, and then he left me on the bench for the return leg and we got beat.

14:09I come on towards the end, but the game was done. It was that evening, actually, I went to Wings restaurant after the game, still my tracksuit, and went in, Maradona was in there. No way! Maradona got a picture with him and stuff, and he had the suit on, full suit tie, and then he gave me his time. It was a bit weird, like, he took his tie off and put his tie on me, had my club taxis on. Have you still got it? Yeah, I've still got it at home, yeah. Did he say anything? What did he say? No, he was just giving me his tie. How did you two communicate? Does he even speak English? That's what I was kind of wondering.

14:42No, I've met him a few times after that, but, yeah, no, he got a picture and he took his tie off and just gave me his tie, yeah, so it was it was a strange strange moment but I was I was fuming obviously after the game being on the bench and then we we'd gone through and so I'd gone out still fuming having a few glasses of wine to drown my sorrows Were you on your own? No I was with Colina and there was a few of us actually to drown my sorrows I don't often go out in my taxi as well so in my club taxi so yeah Makes a change from pyjamas Yeah I know but no but that was Obviously, I got something good out of the night out of it.

15:22I got Maradona's time. Amazing. You see the Bernabeu. What's the atmosphere like there when you're playing? Do the fans give you a lot of stick there or is it more so... Do you know what? The England game was tough because we played Spain and they just bopped us everywhere. I smashed Salgado. I pushed Casillas into the crowd. And that's when took me off at half-time because I would have got sent off. and then I remember Cleans and Kai going and saying that all the seats were heated seats and that's what they were made of but yeah, just to play at such an iconic stadium and throughout your childhood you've seen all these stadiums like Santero, Bernabeu, the Nou Camp as well Nou Camp has big speakers around the side of the pitch so it sounds louder as well when you're on the pitch Let's move on to your best atmosphere Best atmosphere?

16:18I have to say Celtic Park. To play at Celtic 2006, I think it was. I mean, we actually lost a game one now. But to play there and feel that atmosphere was incredible. How come you were a Celtic fan? Yeah, I'm wondering that. I've just grown up as a kid. I've always liked Celtic. Yeah, so... Was there any particular players? or was it I've just always I think always liked Celtic Did any family members like them or anything? Yeah me dad whole family I think but yeah no I've always liked Celtic and then when you think when I was growing up obviously there was Henrik Larson Chris Sutton up top John Arton when he was there some of the players Celtic have had and the moments they've given is incredible so the team I've always John my best part of my career I always thought I'd love to play for Celtic at the end of my career and obviously it wasn't to be.

17:19Did you ever have any opportunities to play them? Not really. Not really, but I'm sure if I would have pushed for it, I probably could have. But going back to that game, we lost the game 1-0. And I always remember coming in after the game and I think I was negotiating a new deal at the time at Man United. And I always remember coming in, Alex Ferguson, and he went nuts. and then he said and some of you have got the cheek to start talking about a new deal and stuff I was just sat there I was just like whatever but yeah no the atmosphere was incredible Nakamura he scored a free kick but the atmosphere there when you stood there and you know you heard the Champions League music and then just how loud it was and they're very passionate fans as well and obviously they've they've sang their song which is solely their song, You'll Never Walk Alone,

18:18which is the song I don't really like anyway. But the atmosphere was just incredible. You said you grew up watching Henrik Larsson. You obviously got to play with him afterwards. Did you think, like, oh, my God, did you have that sort of... Yeah, it was mad. And not to the extent, obviously, where I play with Duncan Ferguson, but watching Henrik grow up and then all of a sudden he comes to us on loan and I'm playing in front of them and do you know what he was better than what I thought because when you're watching him play for Celtic and not to sound disrespectful you're thinking oh it's in Scotland it's Scottish football it's not as good as the Premier League and then he come he come in to play with us and even when as an older person his movement was incredible and we actually had a real good chemistry between us we worked off each other and he made some really good runs and stuff so he was and then that got me thinking how good he must have been when he was younger of course yeah he's my favourite ever lone player that we ever had we haven't had a lot but it was that three months I was like I wish we'd have got him when he was just a bit younger was he was there anything you learnt from him on a training ground or anything like that as well just his movement was really good because he'd lost the other pace as well I think when he came into us so his movement had to be really good to get away from players as well.

19:41So it was purely just as movement and watching them. But then that understanding, I was always a player who really studied and watched my teammates because I wanted to know what movements they make and what's the trigger for them making this run. So if it's a small little step to this way, to go that way, I used to really watch them closely so I understood what they were going to do so I could either pass it to them or then making a run to take a player away to make space. So watching them in training and then in games to play alongside them was special. OK, let's finish on your all-time favourite European away night.

20:21Obviously, the final was a favourite one, but it's a neutral ground for us and Chelsea to play at. I think the favourite one was the semi-final against Arsenal. I think it's always nice when you beat Arsenal away from home anyway, but I think they were confident that they'd win and then to go there we batted them and actually I should never have played in that game I was ill the night before I woke up woke up about three o 'clock in the morning I was like sweating and dripping in sweat I was shivering I was freezing then I was hot so I was so I phoned the doctor the doctor come to my room and then he gave me tablets still about nine o 'clock in the morning exactly the same so the doctor gave me so many different tablets to get through the game i should never have played really and then after the game we stayed in we stayed in london we stayed in the hotel all the players and staff it was celebrating and all went to bed i stayed to bed and for the next three or four days i was in a bad way so to get through that game um done well the doctors done well to get me through that game because should never have played what can you remember from the actual game or is it all a bit of a blow yeah no it was incredible it's from Ronaldo free kick which it's one of them where he puts the ball down he starts walking back and you think what are you doing told you from there whatever and then he has and the ball's gone and then it's took off again I think it was Almunia and goal it took off a couple of times and he scored and then the breakaway goal again there was me Ronaldo Jason Park breaking away and we rarely we give them a lesson in terms of they were a good team they moved the ball well but we sat there and we were clinical There was something about midweek games with Arsenal during that period it was like it was just any midweek game there was a lot of tension The midweek games the night games were always better wherever it is especially Old Trafford but when you you go into a Champions League night and whether that's we'll be talking about a few stadiums there whatever stadium that is when you go into a Champions League night and especially if there's a little bit of rain as well they're the best nights what makes it different it just makes the pictures a bit when you see the floodlights and you see the rain coming through the floodlights and the Champions League music everything about it and then if you win obviously and to win at the Emirates the second leg of a semi-final tie to go to a Champions League final and it's it's such a special moment I missed the Barcelona game at Old Trafford when Scolzi scored I was injured in that game I got injured in the Chelsea game the game before which I should never have played because I took injections for the Barcelona game took injections for the Chelsea game but we'd already won the league so I should never have played in that game but Alex Ferguson wanted me to play so it got that bad that I couldn't play the second leg so I missed that celebration on the pitch and I was in the stand when we made the final so this was what I gained I was ill so I missed the whole celebration but I was still in the dressing room obviously after the game knackered and straight away I could feel my body was just shutting off so I had to get back to bed but to be on that pitch and feel that at the Emirates was a special moment.

23:58OK, well that's where we'll leave it. I'm sure the Manchester United fans and football fans in general will have enjoyed that little trip down memory lane. Thank you as always for listening and watching. We'll be back on Monday and a reminder you can watch The Wayne Rooney Show on the BBC Sport YouTube channel or on iPlayer or you can listen on BBC Sounds.

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