“When Fergie was here…”: Wayne Rooney fires back in bitter row with £95m United target

Wayne Rooney has now had his say after Anthony Gordon publicly responded to the criticism that followed Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League. The row began after Gordon was left out of Newcastle United’s starting line-up for the first leg against Barcelona before later appearing from the bench, which led to sharp debate around his condition and availability. Gordon then made it clear that he felt some of the punditry around the situation had missed the mark, with Rooney one of the names drawn into the fallout. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the 40-year-old offered more detail on what he says he was actually trying to get across. Rather than framing it as a question over Gordon’s desire to play, the Manchester United legend appeared to place the emphasis on how modern football now handles illness, fitness and controlled minutes. This matters because Gordon’s frustration seemed rooted in the idea that his commitment had been questioned, whereas Rooney’s explanation points more towards the decision-making around him. Modern football driven by sports science The former England international remarked that: “the sports science will probably be saying, ‘Oh, he can only play 20 or 30 minutes.’ […] that’s the way the game is now.” In addition, he also observed that “managers, doctors, all get involved,” adding that “you’re putting players at risk of getting injuries.” This makes it evident that his view was shaped by the way the modern game seeks to protect players from further physical risk. Essentially, the Liverpool native seemed to be explaining the process behind his earlier comments rather than fully retreating from them. Contemporary caution versus Ferguson-era thinking Meanwhile, Rooney’s response still carried an unmistakably old-school tone, as he also contrasted today’s thinking with the standards he knew during his playing days. Using Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at Old Trafford as a reference, the 40-year-old argued that: “That wouldn’t have happened when Fergie was here in terms of sports science.” Additionally, he underlined the broader point by insisting that: “I think the old school generation […] if you are fit to play, you can play,” which neatly sums up the divide at the centre of this debate. Moreover, from a Manchester United perspective, it is a familiar line from their ex-forrward, who still tends to view the game through the harder-edged standards of the Ferguson years. The English pundit’s intervention is, therefore, more of a clarification than an apology. In the final analysis, whether Gordon accepts this is another matter, but Rooney has at least now made his position clear. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Okari Wambunya Okari Wambunya is a football writer at The Peoples Person, covering Manchester United with fast, accurate, and source-led news, analysis, opinions, team developments, injuries, press conferences, and matchday reactions. A former secondary school teacher, he now coaches college football (not soccer) and continues to support young people through academic mentoring and youth work. He holds a BA (Hons) in English from Brunel University London and an MA in Education from King’s College London, with experience across digital journalism and broadcast sports media. Okari first praised Michael Carrick in a blog post he wrote at 16-years-old in 2014; over a decade later, United appointing Carrick as interim head coach feels like a full-circle moment.