Wayne Rooney has stated that Manchester United "did not deserve" to win the Premier League title in 2011-2012, and that he would feel "uncomfortable" accepting a championship medal even if Manchester City were eventually stripped of its title for that season.

Rooney's former Manchester United teammates Rio Ferdinand and De Gea have publicly stated they would like to receive the 2011-2012 Premier League winner's medals. It has been reported that the vast majority of the 115 charges previously brought against Manchester City by the Premier League have been upheld.

This explosive decision has also sparked considerable controversy: how should Manchester City's glorious period from 2009 to 2018 be assessed? Players, fans, and managers have all called for this history to be reconsidered.

However, Manchester United legend Rooney insists that even if Manchester City is stripped of its title, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United team in 2011-2012 should still not receive the title.

Speaking on the "Stick to Football" show, Rooney said: "I heard Rio say he wanted another Premier League medal... Honestly, if that's the case, I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting another Premier League medal.

"I don't think we deserved it. We didn't do enough to win the championship that season. I remember we had a six or seven-point lead with four or five games to go, but we ultimately threw it away.

"I've seen everything that's happened over the last few days, and I've heard many opinions. I've put myself in the shoes of a Manchester City player back then... they're just players, and they'll do everything they can to win the Premier League. In their hearts, they achieved it. If those players had no idea what was happening at the club's management level, if something like that happened to me... I'd be devastated.

"It's possible this could happen, that their medals are taken away, but I don't want this medal because I don't think we, as a team, deserved it. After all, we weren't first that year.

"So when I see my teammates saying 'I want a medal,' I'm already quite satisfied—I've won five Premier League titles. I don't want this one. Should their title be taken away because of what the club's owners did? Yes, perhaps. But I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting this medal."

On the final day of the 2011-2012 Premier League season, Rooney scored with a header in Manchester United's away match against Sunderland, helping the team secure a 1-0 victory.

When the match at the Stadium of Light ended, Manchester City was incredibly trailing Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at home. Since Manchester United had already secured three points, Manchester City needed a win to clinch the title at that moment.

However, minutes later, Dzeko equalized, and then Aguero scored that famous winning goal in the dying seconds, securing the title for Manchester City and breaking the hearts of Manchester United's players on the pitch.

Other former Manchester United teammates of Rooney have also commented on the impending decision.

De Gea, who was also part of the Manchester United team that missed out on the title in 2012, later won the Premier League runner-up medal with the team in the 2017-2018 season. De Gea wrote on social media: "So... let's talk about this. How many Premier League titles have I actually won?"

Rio Ferdinand wrote: "Adding another Premier League medal to my trophy cabinet."

Traduit par IA.

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