Champions League Final Defeat Inspires Manchester United Forward Wayne Rooney

Manchester United's tireless striker Wayne Rooney, who has added relentless goalscoring to his workmanlike engine this season, will use his past experiences in Champions League finals, both in Rome and in Moscow, as inspirational sources ahead of his side' s AC Milan test this week.

"It was a weird night," Rooney said, reminiscing with the Mirror. "It was obviously an achievement to get there, but then it was just a horrible, horrible feeling losing to Barcelona.

"The memory of that night has made me determined to get back there again," the Englishman revealed. "Actually, what motivates me even more is the previous season when we won the final in Moscow, the feeling after that game was something special, probably the best moment of my career so far, and I want to experience it again, but Barcelona hurt us all."

Much of the pre-match hype has focussed on former United golden boy David Beckham lacing up with Milan against Sir Alex Ferguson et al, however, Rooney insists he - and United - will be looking to avenge European defeats to the San Siro outfit both in 2005, and also in 2007.

"It is going to be a difficult game because they are a very experienced side. I’ve already played them twice in the Champions League and each time they knocked us out, so we know it will be tough, but hopefully this time we can come out on top.

"They’ve got quite a few [experienced] players like Clarence Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo, David Beckham from set pieces, and Alexandre Pato is a quality player too. All their players can produce something special, so we have to be careful.

"It is always difficult to play Italian opposition. At the beginning of the season I think they were struggling a bit, but over the last couple of months they found some good form and they are playing well, so it will be a difficult game for us.

"Personally I know how tough it is going to be, especially if Alessandro Nesta is playing for them. In the other games, his positional sense was brilliant, and it was difficult. Because he reads the game so well, it was difficult to play against him.

Beckham, Rooney feels, is comparable to current United veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs, both of whom can be regarded as an "inspiration".

"Just like Ryan Giggs, David is an inspiration for how he has played at the top for so long. David is a very professional lad, he’s done well, he’s still a player young lads look up to and want to emulate. He’s had a great career and is still going."

Article Source : goal.com