DC United head coach Wayne Rooney showed he'd learned a thing or two from Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson in delivering a passionate speech to help inspire his side to an opening victory to kick off the Major League Soccer season.
Rooney's men came from behind to win 3-2 with two goals in added time - another Ferguson and United trait - to defeat Toronto over the weekend. And footage shared on the DC United's social media channel shows the United hero firing up his players before the contest and motivating them during the interval.
Rooney, who froze former United academy graduate Ravel Morrison out of the squad earlier in the week despite the 30-year-old still having seven months remaining on his contract, saw off-season signing Mateusz Klich put DC ahead in the first half. But Toronto rallied to lead 2-1 before two goals in added time completed a dramatic turnaround. A 90th-minute equaliser from former Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Liverpool centre-forward Christian Benteke was followed by a winner from substitute Theodore Ku-DiPietro.
READ MORE: Emails, the human touch and more - inside Ten Hag's United transformation
At half time a driven Rooney, in a video on the club's social media channel, implored his side to keep their focus claim the win.
"Restarts, the chance they had at the end, whenever there's a f***** throw-in or free-kick, lads; switch on," said Rooney. Switch your f***** minds on because that's an opportunity for them.
"But, if you get f***** chances now, lads, on the break, you'll get chance. We've had two or three really good chances opportunities on the break. We'll have more; make sure we're f***** clinical, lads. Kill the game off. The game is there for you. If you want this game, I'm telling you it's f***** there for you. Go and win, Okay?"
Before the game, Rooney had used the view from outsiders on DC to inspire his players, saying: "I've seen some of the interviews from their side. They've come here expecting to win.
"So, I got asked a question in the press conference, I got asked, 'what's your expectations, because everyone else in the league don't expect us to do anything.' I don't give a f*** what anyone else thinks. I know what we've got in here, I know what we've done throughout the preseason, I know what we're capable of doing. So you have to f***** believe in yourselves.
"Believe in yourselves as a group, as individuals. Be a team, whatever happens. It might be that we go a goal down, it doesn't matter. Believe that you can get back in the game and go win the game. We can do great things this season, and it starts tonight."
READ NEXT:
