Wayne Rooney delivered an emotional pre-match and half-time speech to the DC United players as they came from behind to win their opening MLS game.
The 37-year-old took charge of DC for the first time this season on Saturday when they faced Toronto FC at Audi Field. But before the game, Rooney decided to fire up his players with a moving message in the dressing room ahead of the game.
"I've seen some of the interviews from their side. They've come here expecting to win," Rooney said, via the club's social media channels. "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."
Mateusz Klich, who made the move from Leeds in January, gave Rooney's side the lead in the 13th minute with a neat long-range strike. However, the ex-Derby boss knew that the job was far from finished at half-time as Toronto were dangerous and created some chances.
Rather than delivering a fiery speech to his players, Rooney took a more positive approach while ensuring that his side were ready to go out for the second-half. He praised them for their first-half performances - but also blasted "switch your f***ing minds on" to his team.
"Make sure we're f***ing clinical lads. Kill the game off,'" he said at half-time. But unfortunately for Rooney, his team didn't do that and allowed Toronto back into the game as former Juventus star Federico Bernardeschi equalised in the 66th minute, before Mark-Anthony Kaye gave the visitors the lead shortly later.
DC could have crumbled at that point, but it seems as though Rooney has instilled a never say die attitude amongst his squad, with an ability to fight back from deficits and challenges. They levelled through ex-Liverpool forward Christian Benteke in injury-time and it looked like there was only team that wanted to it.
That was Rooney's men and they eventually found a winner in the 98th minute as Ted Ku-DiPietro slotted home to spark delirium in the stadium as DC got off to a perfect start in their MLS opener. After the game, Rooney praised his side for how they managed to come back.
Rooney said: "It's always important to try and start the season well. And to be honest, for the players, for us as a group, we had a tough week. Obviously losing [Martin Rodriguez] with a knee injury and then Taxi [Fountas] as well, so I had to change the team a little bit.
"To start the season with three points against a good team – Toronto are a very good team - we're all delighted."
