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Wayne Rooney lifts the Europa League trophy. Mike Hewitt

Wayne Rooney felt undeserving of final trophies at Man United

Frustrated with a lack of game time, Wayne Rooney knew late last year he would have to leave the Red Devils.

WAYNE ROONEY ADMITS he questioned whether he deserved to lift the EFL Cup and Europa League, having expected to leave Manchester United from November last year.

Everton brought Rooney back to Goodison Park on Sunday on a two-year deal, ending the former United captain’s 13-year Old Trafford career.

Rooney leaves United as their record scorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances, having won five Premier League titles and the Champions League among 12 major trophies.

The last of those honours came in Rooney’s final United appearance as Ajax were beaten in the Europa League final, but the forward says he already knew he would be leaving when celebrating that triumph, having been restricted to 15 league starts during his last term.

Rooney explained: “It was just a frustrating time. The hardest thing was lifting the two trophies – the League Cup and the Europa League.

You don’t feel like you (deserve it) because you haven’t been part of the game. That was hard to do; you’re naturally happy because you have won but you don’t celebrate it as much.

“It is just frustrating if you are not playing. The lads who play were having two-day recovery sessions while all the lads who were on the bench and not in the squad were training together, so you’re not really training with the first team.

“It was around November I knew (an exit was likely).

I spoke to Jose in January to see what his opinions were and he always said he wanted me to stay and help the team until the end of the season. I did that.

“I helped in the games he put me in but I knew I had to leave to move forward for my career. It was a sad moment because I had been at the club for 13 years but I had to think of my career as well.”

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    Mute Jonny Murphy
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    May 2nd 2014, 9:54 PM

    Hope to God Everton take points off city

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    May 3rd 2014, 12:26 PM

    I wouldn’t be betting on Newcastle beating anybody.

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    May 3rd 2014, 11:41 AM

    Better chance of Howard Webb being the next united boss than this coming off

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    May 3rd 2014, 10:57 AM

    I did an 8 match accumulator – didn’t include the Utd and Arsenal games. Wins for Chelsea and Liverpool and the other 6 will be draws.

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    Mute Derek Brian Griffin Cooper
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    May 3rd 2014, 1:26 PM

    Be lucky to get 3 draws draws are a thing of the past

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    May 3rd 2014, 3:01 PM

    Early kick off West Ham 2-0 Spurs, didn’t get much mileage of that bet then …

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    Mute Kieran Canavan
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    May 3rd 2014, 10:47 AM

    Fulham will beat stoke

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