• Premier League

I owed United fans a special goal - Rooney

ESPN staff
February 13, 2011
Wayne Rooney and Nani were the scorers as Manchester United defeated Manchester City at Old Trafford © PA Photos
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Wayne Rooney has ruled Manchester City out of the title race after their 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday. Manchester United's victory, sealed thanks to Rooney's late overhead kick, puts them eight points clear of Roberto Mancini's side, who have played a game more.

"It almost certainly rules City out of the title race unless a disaster happens," he said. "We are the team to catch. We know how it feels to be top of the league and to get over that finish line.

"We have the experience with the manager and the players and we know what we have to do. Hopefully within the next six or seven games, we can maintain that gap, or make it bigger."

Rooney's goal was only his fifth in the Premier League this season, with the England striker failing to scale the heights he reached in the previous campaign. He concedes that he has been below-par, but hopes the winner against City will have earned him some goodwill from the United fans.

"The Manchester United fans deserve that from me," he said. "I haven't had the best of seasons and I know how big this game is in Manchester, so I hope they enjoyed that. Now the aim is to keep scoring and help us get that title back."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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