Soccer:England star Wayne Rooney has pleaded he is "only a human being" after being asked if recent revelations about his private life have affected his form. Rooney has not scored from open play this season leading to speculation that the allegations were playing on his mind.
Asked if his form had been affected, the Manchester United striker told Sky Sports News: “I can’t say yes and I can’t say no but I just need to try to get back to doing what I do best — playing football. I’m only a human being. I hurt as well.”
He added: “Obviously, there are people around you who try to help you. But at the end of the day it comes down to yourself. I know I can get through this.”
Rooney, 25, revealed he is working hard to get back to the standards he reached last season when he scored 26 goals in 32 league games.
“Obviously if you don’t play well you think about it,” Rooney said. “And I’ve been staying behind every day at the training ground, practising.”
Rooney had a disappointing World Cup but denied he was under mental strain.
“I was fine,” he said. “I was in the right state of mind, nothing physically wrong with me. I just can’t see why I didn’t perform. It’s a mystery to me to this day.”
Rooney confirmed that, while he would not be ready for this afternoon’s meeting with Sunderland, he will be fit for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on October 12th.
“I’ll be fit, I’ll be 100 per cent,” Rooney said.