Manchester Utd

Who is the best player Wayne Rooney played with at Man Utd?

The former England international, who is currently in temporary charge of Derby, spoke with the official Manchester United podcast

 
12:52pm on Tuesday 24th November 2020
By
Martin Macdonald

Wayne Rooney has named Paul Scholes as the best player he played alongside at Manchester United.

The Man Utd and England legend is now dipping his toes into coaching at Derby, having taking temporary charge of the Championship side after the dismissal of Phillip Cocu.

As a player, he enjoyed a glittering career, he have won five Premier League titles, one Champions League, and one FA Cup.

He is also the record goalscorer for both Man Utd and the England national side.

Although he remains an official player with Derby, too, his career is winding down after 18 years, with his debut for Everton coming in 2002.

He has played alongside such greats as Cristiano Ronaldo, but for him, Scholes is the best team-mate he has ever had.

"Scholesy, I think, obviously Ronaldo has gone on, him and Messi, to probably be the best two players to ever play the game," he told the official Manchester United podcast when asked who was the best he has played with.

"But I just think at the time, Scholesy was brilliant.

"The things he could do with the ball, he obviously wasn’t the quickest but he was so sharp you couldn’t get near him.

"I remember knowing that at the backend of my career I’d be going back into midfield so I was almost studying him and watching him in training and games.

"It was brilliant for me, first hand, to watch him and learn."

Rooney also reserved praise for another United legend in Ryan Giggs, with whom he formed a "telepathic" understanding.

"I’d say more Giggsy I had that [telepathic understanding], Giggsy would give the ball quite a bit, but it was always trying to play us in, and I loved that," the 35-year-old added.

"I wouldn’t mind players giving the ball away trying things.

"Scholesy was more about controlling the game for us, he was brilliant at things that the fans probably won’t see.

"Letting players come on to him and then throwing them out the game, small things he was doing for the team that was priceless."

Rooney took charge of his very first game in management at the weekend, but was unable to inspire Derby enough to avoid a 1-0 loss away at Bristol City.

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