Wayne Rooney has revealed that Manchester United’s success during his playing days was fuelled by unlikely team bonding sessions on the PlayStation Portable.
Speaking on his BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, the former United, Everton, and England striker said he and his teammates built vital communication and trust by playing the military strategy game SOCOM during team trips.
“I honestly believe a big part of our success came from the PSP,” Rooney said. “We played it everywhere – on the plane, on the team bus. It forced us to communicate, be tactical, and revive each other when knocked out. Ask Rio [Ferdinand], Michael Carrick, John O’Shea, or Wes Brown – it was brilliant.”
Rooney added that his teammates’ styles in the game often mirrored their approach on the pitch at Old Trafford.
“Carrick was calm and sneaky, always lying in wait and dropping grenades, while I was straight in on the front line,” he laughed.
Not everyone enjoyed the rowdy gaming sessions, though. Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar often grew frustrated with the noise.
“He would move to the other end of the bus to escape the shouting when we were flanking the last player,” Rooney recalled.
Rooney also addressed West Ham’s struggles in the Premier League, where manager Graham Potter is under mounting pressure following a poor start to the season.
He stressed the need for stability at the London club:
“It takes time to move players out, bring players in, and build results. Constantly changing managers leaves you back at square one. West Ham need a good foundation.”
The Hammers, who have lost four of their opening five games and sit 19th in the table, face Everton on 29 September. Rooney noted that clubs like Brentford and Brighton thrive because they stick to a philosophy beyond any single manager — something he believes West Ham should emulate.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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