Wayne Rooney Reflects on Memorable Away Matches and Premier League Trends
Wayne Rooney has shared some of the most unusual experiences from his away games during his football career.
In his latest podcast episode, The Wayne Rooney Show , the former England captain recounted various challenges faced by players during away matches. He noted that the conditions in the dressing rooms often vary dramatically, recalling that Chelsea's dressing room was excessively hot, while Liverpool's was uncomfortably cold. He also mentioned a particularly unpleasant incident at Sunderland, where Manchester United players encountered a flood from leaking toilets above the dressing rooms.
Rooney reflected on how many of these away trips were disrupted even before the matches began. "We’ve had fireworks outside the hotel at different places," he said. He recalled a New Year's Day match when his team stayed in a Birmingham hotel, only to be startled awake by a firework display on the roof at midnight.
Regarding the incident at Sunderland, Rooney, who was suspended for that match, described how the flooding occurred while players were in their gear. "I think there was a load of whatever goes into the toilet all over the players and their clothes," he explained.
He also noted the cramped conditions of some dressing rooms, stating, "Tottenham and Chelsea were always hot. You’d get dressed as quickly as possible and then stand outside the dressing room. Anfield, on the other hand, was always freezing. I don’t know if they manipulate the temperature in there."
Rooney shared that returning to a former club can often be the most challenging away trip. He vividly remembered his first return to Goodison Park after joining Manchester United in February 2005 for an FA Cup match. "It was horrible. Obviously, it’s a ground I’ve been going to since I was a kid. My dad wouldn’t go to that game because he knew I’d be getting a lot of stick," he remarked.
Owners are Obsessed with High xG - Rooney
Rooney further discussed the impact of club owners' obsession with expected goals (xG) on the Premier League. He believes this focus is leading players to take fewer long-range shots. "Owners want high xG because they think if you’ve got high xG, you have a better chance of winning the game. What they want is for teams to get closer to the goal to increase xG, which is why players are no longer shooting from the edge of the box," he explained.
Statistics support Rooney’s assertion. This season, the Premier League has seen an average of 7.3 shots from outside the box per game, a significant decrease from 10.5 shots per game in the 2016-17 season. Rooney added, "For instance, Frank Lampard had many shots from the edge of the box, but his xG would be low, despite scoring over 200 goals in his career." He expressed concern that players are becoming overly reliant on data and footage from training sessions.
Rooney Expresses Sympathy for 'Devastated' Ekitike
On the podcast, Rooney also addressed the recent sending-off of Hugo Ekitike during the Carabao Cup match against Southampton. After scoring a late winner, Ekitike received a second yellow card for celebrating by removing his shirt, resulting in a suspension for Liverpool's upcoming Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
While former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton criticized Ekitike's celebration as "sheer stupidity," Rooney took a more empathetic stance. "He’s been caught up in the emotion of scoring a goal, and he’ll probably regret it. I’m not defending it because it is silly, but it’s refreshing to see someone celebrating a goal in the current climate where players often hesitate to celebrate due to VAR concerns," he said. Rooney noted that Ekitike's situation creates competition for starting positions, adding, "I’m sure he’ll be devastated."