Now go and top Ronaldo’s feat, Ferguson tells Rooney
MANCHESTER UTD (3) v/s FULHAM (0)
SIR ALEX FERGUSON is backing Wayne Rooney to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 42 goals in a season after bagging an impressive double at Old Trafford.
Red-hot Rooney struck a second-half brace to ensure United leapfrogged Chelsea and Arsenal to go back to the top of the table.
It took his tally to 32 goals to the season – just ten short of Ronaldo’s impressive feat in 2007-08 – and Ferguson believes his in-form striker can etch his name in club folklore. “I said a while ago it’s impossible for a player to get 42 but he is on 32 and there is a challenge there for him,” the United boss said.
“He is capable of scoring in the next eight league games and five possible European games, so he has 13 possible games and you never know, I wouldn’t put it beyond him. I was just glad he got to the 30 mark, but we are enjoying his goalscoring.”
Rooney, however, remains focused on continuing his scoring streak but says Ronaldo’s record is not a target. “If I am being honest, getting to 42 goals wouldn’t mean a lot to me,” he said. “It is not something I have looked at. I want to score goals in every game and what Cristiano Ronaldo achieved was unbelievable.
“But I am a different player and a different person. I am not comparing myself to Cristiano.”
Fulham matched United in a subdued first half, but Rooney took just 30 seconds to make his mark after the break, slotting home Nani’s pass to put his side in front.
This seemed to settle United but it took them until the 84th minute to seal victory when Rooney fired low after excellent approach work from strike partner Dimitar Berbatov.
Berbatov then wrapped it up by heading home a minute from timethird from Park Ji-Sung’s cross.