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 Rooney: Ronaldo is irreplaceable
Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has revealed that he is missing the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo on the Old Trafford outfit.
Ronaldo left to join Spanish giants Real Madrid during the summer in a deal worth some £80million, taking with him not only an enhanced reputation, but also a prolific goalscoring record.
The talented Portugal international bagged a staggering 118 goals in just 292 appearances for the Red Devils, and his departure prompted United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to tell Rooney that he would need to up his goals tally.
Although happy to oblige, Rooney has been left in doubt as to the impact Ronaldo had during his six-year spell in Manchester.
"I don't consider I was ever in Ronaldo's shadow but, no, I'm not happy he left the club and I don't think any of us are," he told The Sun.
"I'd prefer him to still be in the team if I'm being honest.
"He's a brilliant player, irreplaceable, the best player in the world - so no one's happy he left.
"The manager said he wanted me to score more goals - but then he tells me that every season. As the season goes on, if I am not scoring enough, he'll tell me I need to improve.
"And if I am scoring goals, he'll still tell me I need to improve. That's just how he is."
Rooney will have a late fitness test ahead of Sunday's massive Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.
United currently find themselves top of the table, and, despite some indifferent early season form, Rooney is adamant that the United juggernaut is set to carry on rolling - regardless of what the critics say.
"It's funny because as soon as we got beaten at Burnley, people came out saying 'we're not as good as last season, we won't win the title, we'll be lucky to finish in the top four' and all that.
"It was laughable, we'd only lost one game. But then they've done it the last three seasons when we've won the league - the next season they've been straight out saying Chelsea are the favourites.
"I think because of United's dominance over the last couple of decades, a lot of people like to see us lose. We just have to get on with it." Rooney: Ronaldo is irreplaceable | ESPNSTAR.com ---------------------------------------------- |
not like the one, that his team is not going to qualify for WC2010 
