Rooney claims Ferguson's retirement end of 'era', not of Man U

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has said that Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement from the club was the end of an 'era' but not the end of United.

Rooney said that Liverpool, who have not won the title since 1991, are a 'great club' and it comes as a surprise that they have not won a title for so long, but anyone who thinks that United's disappointing season so far is the start of a decline could not be 'more wrong'.

According to the Mirror, Rooney said that he remembers United going even longer than Liverpool without a title but it would never happen again at the club as the sheer size of United and the fan base the club has got makes what happened to Liverpool 'unthinkable' for them.

Rooney further added that it was always going to be a 'massive challenge' for the club when David Moyes took over following Ferguson's retirement as the former United boss had been at the club for a long time.

The United striker also said that Moyes succeeding Ferguson was never going to be a 'smooth transition' because it is all about replacing the most successful manager in the game.

United has had a poor season under Moyes' stewardship and Rooney said that there is a lot of anger and hurt inside their dressing room as they all hate watching United so far from the top.

Rooney added that as a group of players they knew that they have not been 'good enough' adding that they are the champions and there are players at the club who have won the title numerous times and the current position the club is in is a blow to their pride, but they all want to prove to all the 'doubters' that it would not be long before United are champions again, the report added.