Wayne Rooney calls on DC United reset after debut win
The Manchester United and England legend has given a rallying cry to his new troops following the team’s MLS victory over Orlando City.
As a teenager he caught the eye with some stunning performances for Everton, then continued his goal-scoring exploits for Manchester United and his country, England, before ending his playing career in Major League Soccer. And after hanging up his boots, it’s now Wayne Rooney’s role to get the best out of the current crop of professionals playing under his command.
“Season starts now,” Rooney tells DC United players
DC United’s new manager Wayne Rooney urged his side to use their 2-1 win over Orlando City as a platform for the rest of the MLS campaign as he got his reign off to a successful start.
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Goals in added time from Chris Durkin and Taxiarchis Fountas gave DC United the win after Junior Urso had put Orlando ahead in the first half at Audi Field. Rooney was appointed manager last month but had to wait to receive his work visa before he could take charge of the MLS strugglers, who are bottom of the Eastern Conference with 21 points from as many games.
“I believed we would win the game, but the one thing we had to do was up the tempo,” Rooney told reporters after the game. “I asked the team at halftime to be more positive. To put the work in. I thought the second half was excellent.
“The players needed that. This season has to start now. They’ve had some bad results in the first half of the season.”
DC United next face Charlotte FC on Wednesday and Rooney said it was important to build on Sunday's win.
“We can’t rest and think ‘we’ve won a game,’” he added. “We have to be consistent and we have to go on a run.”