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Wayne Rooney, Manchester United's record goalscorer, has adopted a notably forgiving position when assessing Manchester City's misconduct during his time as a player. His former United colleagues, however, have been far less charitable.
Three years after the Premier League initially charged City with over 100 violations of financial fair play regulations, the club from the blue side of Manchester have now been officially found guilty by an independent panel. The Premier League announced the verdict with a pointed statement, but Rooney — whose Manchester United side were pipped to the 2011–12 top-flight crown by City on goal difference — chose considerably more measured words.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal if I'm being honest," Rooney told The United Stand podcast earlier this week, "because I don't think we deserve it. We didn't do enough that season to win the league."
"They might take them away but I wouldn't want it because I don't feel as a team we deserved it that year because we obviously didn't finish first," he added. It was a view his former teammates were quick to reject.
2011–12 Premier League Table
Statistic | Man City | Man Utd |
|---|---|---|
Position | 38 | 38 |
Wins | 28 | 28 |
Draws | 5 | 5 |
Losses | 5 | 5 |
Goals For | 93 | 89 |
Goals Against | 29 | 33 |
Goal Difference | +64 | +56 |
Points | 89 | 89 |
Former United centre-back Rio Ferdinand spearheaded the opposing view, vowing to confront his City rivals at the earliest opportunity: "When I see Joleon [Lescott]—I'm actually going to go to his house and just say, 'Listen, hand it over.'
"You can't really sit there and say you were champions, can you?"
United's goalkeeper during that runners-up campaign in 2011–12, David de Gea, also weighed in on the debate. "So," he asked. "Let's talk. How many Premier League titles have I won then?"