Rooney: I deserve to be dropped by England
Published 00:01 04/11/11 By David McDonnell
Wayne Rooney says he will understand if Fabio Capello leaves him out of England’s forthcoming friendlies with Spain and Sweden.
Although he is desperate to play against World Cup holders and European champions Spain at Wembley next Saturday, the Manchester United striker said he would not blame Capello for omitting him.
Capello visited United’s Carrington training ground on Thursday, having watched Rooney in Champions League action at Old Trafford the previous night, for a heart-to-heart with England’s star man.
With Rooney currently suspended for the group stage of Euro 2012, Capello is mulling over whether or not to include him in his friendlies squad, as the England boss needs to make alternative plans for matches in which his most influential player unavailable.
Rooney told Capello he would understand if he was left out of the squad to face Spain and, three days later, Sweden, as he revealed his ongoing turmoil over the petulant kick which earned him a red card against Montenegro and a costly ban for next summer’s tournament.
“It’s down to the manager now to play other players,” he said. “I want to be there and I want to be part of the team.
“But I’ll understand if I’m not in the next squad, because I’ll be missing out on those first three games, at the minute, and he has to look at other players – it’s as simple as that.
“Obviously, it’s devastating for me [to be suspended] but it’s something that’s my own fault, so I can’t really complain.”
Although the FA have yet to decide whether to appeal against Rooney’s suspension following his dismissal in last month’s 2-2 draw in Podgorica, the player himself is keen to do all he can to get the ban reduced.
While acknowledging his own stupidity in earning a needless red card, Rooney feels a three-game ban for what was, in essence, an act of petulance rather than malice was excessive.
“It’s no excuse [for what I did],” he said. “But I still feel the punishment is a bit harsh.”
Miodrag Dzudovic, the Montenegro defender who found himself on the receiving end of Rooney’s right boot in the incident, has written to UEFA in support of the England forward - a move welcomed by the United star.
“I think he sent an email to the FA, stressing that the punishment was too harsh,” said Rooney. “Obviously that’s nice for me. He didn’t have to do that.”
Capello was reminded of just what England could be missing next summer when he watched Rooney in the 2-0 home win over Otelul Galati on Wednesday.
Playing in a central midfield role, Rooney showed his remarkable versatility by excelling in the new role - although his preferred place is still up front.
“It’s probably a role I could enjoy in the future, when I lose a bit of pace,” said Rooney. “But it’s a role the manager needs me to do at the minute and I am happy to do that and I enjoy it.
"I played there as a young lad but, having watched my team-mates there, I understand the role.”
United have won their last three games – keeping clean sheets too – since their 6-1 derby mauling by Manchester City.
“We’ve done well since the derby,” said Rooney. “We beat Aldershot, had a difficult game against Everton and have now won in Europe.
“After the disappointment of the derby defeat, we’ve bounced back well.
“The derby was hard to take - to lose by that scoreline and in the manner we did. But we know it’s a long season and we know we have good players.
“We know we’ll be there or thereabouts at the end, and we’ll keep pushing and fighting.
“The derby happened and we understood we had to pull together afterwards.
“We had to fight for each other and defend better than we were.
“We’ve had three clean sheets since then and it’s something we’ll continue to work on.”
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