Wayne Rooney has insisted that he doesn’t hold any grudges over Sam Allardyce for his substitution against Liverpool, and justifies it as an expected reaction.
The Everton star was clearly frustrated after he was withdrawn midway through the second half in the 231st Merseyside Derby, that eventually finished 0-0, something that was picked up by every major broadcaster in the country.
Allardyce subsequently defended Rooney’s reaction, accepting that the emotion of the day expectedly effected the way he conducted himself.
Now Rooney has weighed in on the discussion, claiming his disappointment was natural given his allegiance as a lifelong Everton fan and the importance of the fixture. Talking to Sky Sports, Rooney said;
Ask any Liverpudlian who grew up as an Everton fan and gets substituted early on in a derby if they’d be happy coming off – they’d say no.
There was no issue with me and the manager or with me coming off. I respect the manager’s decision but of course there was frustration because I wanted to stay on.
I spoke to him [afterwards] but really we spoke because of how it getting built up to be something it wasn’t. There was no issue over it.
Rooney also sung the praises of Jordan Pickford, arguably Everton’s player of the season, who is being touted as an England No.1 ahead of this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Given Joe Hart’s less than adequate season with West Ham and the occasional mishaps that have plagued Stoke City’s Jack Butland this season, Pickford appears to be the frontrunner, and Rooney agrees that the former Sunderland man is clearly the best option. Rooney said on the matter;
He is England’s No 1, he’s the best keeper the country’s got.
The England manager has got a tough decision to make – he’s also got the experience of Joe Hart.
In my opinion there’s two goalkeepers who could play – Hart and Pickford – and unfortunately for Joe he hasn’t played enough.
