Manchested United boss David Moyes has healed Wayne
Rooney after the Manchester United striker banged his 200th goal for the club
in the 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Rooney’s time at Old Trafford appeared to
be drawing to a close at the end of last season when the then manager Sir Alex
Ferguson revealed that he had asked to leave the club.
Moyes was given the mandate to keeping hold
of the England international and in one of several meetings with the player
told him that he could become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Rooney is now 49 goals behind Sir Bobby
Charlton’s record of 249 and Moyes affirms the striker will have no problem
surpassing the milestone if he continues to play like he did against Bayer
Leverkusen.
“Wayne was great today,” said Moyes. “I’m
not a Manchester United historian but I think there are only four people to do
it.
“I said he has a real chance to be one of
the all-time leading goalscorers at this club and if he keeps playing like he
did tonight he will get there. He was very, very good.
“It was something which we made him aware
of. More importantly I wanted to get him back in a really good condition and
mentally ready correct when he was ready to play.
“You’ll talk about his goals but his pass
for Antonio’s goal as well and he could’ve made it 2-0 after rounding the
goalkeeper and they come up the pitch and make it 1-1. I thought he played
really well.
“I think he looks like he is moving as well
as he has done. He is in a good place himself at the moment and obviously any
centre-forward who is scoring goals feels good about himself.”
Moyes believes keeping hold of Rooney could
prove decisive as United go in search of another European Cup.
“I knew if you are going to win the
Champions League you have to have several world-class players and Wayne comes
into that category,” added Moyes.
“It is really important you have as many of
them as you can in your team.
“You can see what some of the other teams
have got and we have to keep adding to that while keeping the ones we already
have here.”
