Wayne Rooney press conference notes: Big Birmingham City wish and Romelle Donovan temptation
Wayne Rooney was brought to Birmingham City[1] to implement a new, exciting, front-footed – some might even say ‘no fear’ – brand of football, but that has been placed on the backburner. Blues head to Cardiff City on Wednesday with one thing in mind. “You’ll hear managers and myself saying about performances, but the result tomorrow is more important than any performance,” Rooney[2] admitted at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon. By Rooney’s own admission, results haven’t been good enough since he was waltzed in to replace John Eustace[3] in mid-October.
Nine games have yielded six defeats, two draws and only one win. “We are trying to do what we can to pick up results,” Rooney adds. “That’s where we’re at. We are trying to stick to a lot of our principles, of course, but the main thing at the minute is picking up results.
Cardiff away is a difficult game.” READ: Rooney gives Sanderson and Drameh updates as Blues launch injury investigation[4] READ: Lukas Jutkiewicz addresses his contract situation as Birmingham City deal runs down[5]
The Bluebirds are seventh in the Championship and on the up under Turkish manager Erol Bulut, who joined the Welsh club during the summer. Blues have already tasted defeat to Cardiff this season and have never won at the Cardiff City Stadium. Rooney is mindful that the vast majority of Cardiff’s games this season have been tight and decided by the odd goal here or there.
The Blues boss wants his team to put themselves in a position to be on the right side of a tight scoreline. “Confidence takes a hit when you don’t get results, that’s natural and normal. It’s my job to lift the players and get them into a place where we can give a performance to warrant getting a result.
“Ultimately, we have to stay in the game. Cardiff will have moments in the game, like every team does, we have to get through them and make sure when we get our moments we’re ruthless.” Rooney has debated plenty of selection dilemmas with his coaching staff since the Coventry game.
There is quite clearly a temptation to throw 17-year-old Romelle Donovan into the starting XI after three bright cameos off the bench. By the sounds of it, Donovan will have to wait a little bit longer – but a first start can’t be far away. “You want to play him,” Rooney admitted. “He is showing me in training every day that he wants it, he wants to play.
He’s aggressive, he’s a good character, and he’s showing his ability. Again, he came on against Coventry and did really well. “It’s difficult to leave him out the team, but also as he’s such a young lad, you have to protect him as well.
It’s finding the right time to do it.
That time comes when you pick up results, of course it does, but if he keeps showing me what he’s showing it becomes more and more difficult.”
Do you think Blues will get a result at Cardiff?
Have your say in the comments section[6] below…
References
- ^ Birmingham City (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Rooney (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ John Eustace (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Rooney gives Sanderson and Drameh updates as Blues launch injury investigation (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Lukas Jutkiewicz addresses his contract situation as Birmingham City deal runs down (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ comments section (www.birminghammail.co.uk)