Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney eyeing second Champions League title as he remembers first triumph in Moscow as ‘possibly the greatest moment in my career’

Manchester United won the 2008 Champions League title in Moscow
Managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, they beat Chelsea in a memorable final
Only Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick remain from that squad now
Rooney is determined to reach the top of European football again
United travel to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night in Group B

Published:
19:29 GMT, 20 October 2015

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Updated:
19:45 GMT, 20 October 2015

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Wayne Rooney says Manchester United’s Champions League glory night in Moscow in 2008 has fuelled his desire to land European football’s top prize for a second time.

Rooney and Michael Carrick are the only survivors from the United side that beat Chelsea on penalties here at the Luzhniki Stadium in May 2008 as Louis van Gaal’s side prepare to meet CSKA Moscow in Wednesday’s Group B tie.

Asked about his memories of that night under Sir Alex Ferguson, Rooney said: ‘I’ve had mixed emotions in Moscow. I lost here with England 2-1 (in Euro 2008 qualifying) and had possibly the greatest moment in my club career in winning the Champions League.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney speaks to reporters at a press conference in Moscow

Sir Alex Ferguson (centre) congraulates Cristiano Ronaldo after winning the 2008 Champions League

L-R: Carlos Tevez, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Ryan Giggs and Mikael Silvestre celebrate in 2008

Rooney and Michael Carrick stretch together during a training session ahead of Wednesday night’s game

‘It was a special moment for Manchester United which myself and the fans will never forget. Having a taste of winning the trophy gives you a desire and hunger to do it again.

‘It’s a different group of players but hopefully myself and Michael Carrick, who was also here that night, can help them do the same with the experience we’ve gained over the years.’

This game will take place at the 18,000-capacity Khimki Arena just outside Moscow. Because of the notorious traffic jams in the Russian capital, United decided to train at Carrington on Tuesday before taking the four-hour flight. It means they will not have experienced the pitch here, but Rooney made a quick inspection and declared himself satisfied.

He added: ‘We had a long flight so we thought it was better to train in Manchester. The pitch looks very good, a lot better than we thought, I’m sure the players will like it too. It looks like a good pitch to play football on, so hopefully we will do well.’

The United captain goes into the game one goal behind Denis Law as the club’s second highest scorer of all-time. But Rooney, who turns 30 on Saturday, insisted that the team comes first.

He said: ‘I’m sure if you follow my career over the years, I’ve always been a team player. I want to score goals, but the main aim is to be a team player and that’s what I’ll continue to do. There’s nothing better than being successful as a team, to enjoy it with the players and coaches you’ve worked with. It’s an amazing feeling.’

United’s victory over CSKA here in 2009, courtesy of a late goal from Antonio Valencia, remains their only win over Russian opponents home and away in seven attempts, and they will face another stern test.

Carrick, who has been an integral player for United since 2006, is put through his paces in training

United manager Louis van Gaal (right) watches over training with physiotherapist Jos van Dijk

Rooney and his United team-mates are preparing for the Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow

CSKA, who came from two goals down to draw with Manchester City at home last season before shocking Manuel Pellegrini’s 2-1 at the Etihad, are unbeaten here in six months.

With United level on three points with CSKA, PSV Eindhoven and Wolfsburg, Van Gaal admitted that he would be happy with a draw ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

‘One point is good in an away match,’ said the United boss. ‘Three is better, but one point is good. I don’t think about Manchester City, I only think about CSKA. I have to focus on this match.

‘I have to give also a good example to my players because I demand that from them also. Now the most important match is CSKA Moscow. We have already lost one game against PSV and we want to gain one point at least.’

One positive statistic for United is that CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev has conceded a goal in each of his last 33 Champions League appearances, going back to his club’s goalless draw with Arsenal in 2006.

L-R: Memphis Depay, Rooney, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind warm-up in training

Andreas Pereira (centre) stretches alongside his team-mates in training at the Aon Complex in Manchester

When asked about that record, CSKA coach Leonid Slutski said: ‘We are only bothered about the result of this match and not how many balls Akinfeev fails to catch. If it ends up 10-9 to us, that will be fine.

‘We have a team with plenty of experience. We have played a lot of games against big clubs – some have gone well, some a little worse – so we’re ready.

‘United made several changes for their last Premier League game, but I don’t think that was anything to do with playing against us. I think they will have a similar line-up to the one that faced Everton. United are a top club regardless, and whoever plays for them will be very strong.’