Champions League: Rooney all fired up

B. Leverkusen v Man Utd

David Moyes says he is happy to see Wayne Rooney with ‘fire in his belly’ despite his striker narrowly avoiding a sending off against Cardiff at the weekend.

United are in Germany tonight to take on Bayer Leverkusen as they look to cement their place in the next round of the Champions League.

Moyes will be without Nemanja Vidic and Robin van Persie through injury but is happy to have a snarling Rooney at his disposal.

“It’s a big part of his game,” the United manager said in his pre-match press conference. 

“He’s an aggressive player, he plays with his heart, as well as the skills he’s got in abundance. That’s a big part of what he is. That’s the way he was when he was a boy at Everton with me. 

“A lot of people said that might have been missing from his game last season – it’s certainly not missing now. He’s got the hunger back and the desire back and he’s committed for everything. I’d rather have a Wayne Rooney that way than any other way.”

He added: “I want Wayne to have fire in his belly. I think he plays better when he’s tough and aggressive. I don’t want to change Wayne Rooney, that’s for sure. I don’t want him to be kicking at anybody, but I want him aggressive, challenging and full of running. 

“And I think at the moment we’re seeing a really good Wayne Rooney who’s in top form and scoring goals as well.”

Meanwhile, Leverkusen boss Sami Hyypia has backed his side to make the most of home advantage and leap frog United into the group’s top spot. He said: “At home we always play well. Of course we want to win (but) it is not only an important game for us.

“We have to work defensively and offensively as a team. Then we have a chance.” 

Bale heaps praise on Ronaldo

Real v Galatasary

Gareth Bale rubbished the suggestion of any in-house rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo and said his team-mate is by far the best player in the world.

Bale, the world’s most expensive player, has settled in nicely at Real Madrid and says the Portugal superstar has been nothing but a help as he adapts to life at the Bernabeu. Bale told the Daily Telegraph: “Since I have been here, he’s been nothing short of unbelievable.

“I think he has not scored fewer than two goals in every game I’ve played! At the moment, for me, he’s the world’s best player and he’s proving that week in, week out. 

“The number of goals he has scored is just mind-blowing this year.”

The Ballon d’Or vote is set to be contested between Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery.

“He deserves that award,” Bale says. “I don’t think that anyone is near him right now. The goals and the performances he has put in – especially when you think about the pressure he was under playing for Portugal the other day. It shows what a true world-class player he is.”

Real take on Galatasary  tonight, although Ronaldo will not be risked after picking up a knock.

“Since day one he’s been amazing to me. He’s helped me out a lot on and off the pitch and we enjoy playing together. The goals and the assists and scoring together shows that we are playing well together and there’s a lot more to come.” 

‘Hart staying at City’

Man City v VIKOTIA Plzen

Vincent Kompany is back in training but will not line up against Vikotia Plzen tonight.

City have at times badly missed their Belgian skipper, although they coped okay at the weekend when thumping Spurs 6-0.

 Manager Manuel Pellegrini said in his pre-match press conference: “Vincent began working with the squad this week, I think next week he will be fit to play, but he won’t be involved (against Plzen).”

Pellegrini also had to field questions over goalkeeper Joe Hart, who is set to return to the team tonight after being dropped.

The England #1 impressed for his country and Pellegrini said talk of a move was wide of the mark.

He said: “There is a lot of news about six or seven goalkeepers that we want to buy but it is not true. There is no chance that Joe Hart could go out of this squad in January.” n