Wayne Rooney has revealed he had more ‘trust’ to do the defensive work at Manchester United than Cristiano Ronaldo during the pair’s time together at Old Trafford.

Rooney and Ronaldo spent five years playing together with the Red Devils from 2004 to 2009, winning countless trophies including three Premier League titles and the Champions League.

They appeared to fall out in 2022 when Ronaldo criticised his former team-mate during an interview with Piers Morgan after Rooney has branded the Portugal star’s behaviour during his second stint at United ‘unacceptable’.

But those who think back to their playing days together will have fond memories as they combined to form what was a formidable attack under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Now Rooney, speaking as a guest on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, has opened up on his time with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, explaining how their partnership would often work at the club.

Wayne Rooney (left) has revealed he had more ‘trust’ to do the defensive work at Manchester United than Cristiano Ronaldo (right)

The pair played together for five season at Manchester United, winning three Premier League titles and a Champions League

Speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast, Rooney spoke on the forward two years on from their public fall-out

‘[He] would win you the game,’ Rooney began. ‘From a defensive point of view there was just more trust [in me].

‘Obviously, if I played out wide, I would do my job, I would get back and help out defensively where Cristiano probably wouldn’t do it, and then he’s a threat [going forward], he pins their full back, back.

‘I wanted to play in my position [as a centre forward], but that’s where the manager probably got it right in terms of the team winning and being successful, we probably needed that. I wasn’t really interested in individual awards, I always wanted to win with the team, that was always my goal.

‘I wouldn’t say I was a natural goal scorer, I just wanted to get on the ball. If I was more selfish, I potentially could have scored a lot more goals, but I just wanted to play. The number of times I had midfielders telling me to go away or, “I’ll play it through to you, you need to stay up front”.’

Rooney played under four managers at United, with the majority of his time spent under Ferguson. He also turned out for David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho before departing in 2017, joining Everton and then Derby County before taking up managing.

There were high hopes for Van Gaal when he moved to United, but the Dutchman lasted just under two years before departing to make way for Mourinho.

Rooney spoke highly of the now-72-year-old, and picked out one particular Premier League forward that he would have loved to have coached.

Ronaldo (left) criticised Rooney in an interview with Piers Morgan (right) after his former team-mate had questioned his behaviour

Rooney did praise the 39-year-old, saying he could ‘win you the game’, though admitted he was not as impressive defensively

‘I remember Louis van Gaal when he came in, I thought tactically he was the best I’ve worked with,’ Rooney said. ‘It was the stuff off the pitch that was difficult for the players in how he worked, but I remember him coming in and saying he wants his centre forward to have 15, 20 touches a game

‘That’s exactly what [Erling] Haaland does. I always wanted to play and enjoy the game – and score goals.’