MANCHESTER UNITED icon Wayne Rooney revealed one of the worst Hairdryer Treatments he ever received from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Rooney, 39, was signed by Ferguson, 83, back in 2004 and became United’s all-time record scorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances under the Scottish great’s guidance.
However, the two Man Utd heroes butted heads a few times and one of their biggest confrontations took place during the 2009-10 season at Portsmouth.
The Red Devils visited Fratton Park 16 years ago in the Premier League and endured a mediocre first half that saw Rooney’s opener getting cancelled out by Kevin-Prince Boateng’s penalty.
Sir Alex wasn’t happy at all and was especially disappointed with his star striker.
And so Fergie “battered” his player during his half-time team talk in the dressing room.
Rooney, though, strongly believed this dressing down wasn’t deserved and hit back at his manager.
Upon reflection, the England legend admits he went ” a bit too far” and was disrespectful.
That led to a quick one-on-one chat between the two where Rooney was reminded of who runs the roost.
The former centre-forward, though, insists that interaction had a positive effect on his as he went on to complete a hat-trick in the second half before Ryan Giggs made it 4-1.
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It was obvious the two patched things up during the bus ride home as Ferguson confirmed all was forgotten.
Rooney told the BBC: “I got it a lot, yeah. When he went of course he was scary and intimidating.
“At times deserved, at times not deserved. But I think he knew the right times to do it and he knew the effect which it would have. Which normally for me was a positive effect on the pitch.
“There was a game which always sticks out. It was Portsmouth away, we were winning 1-0.
“I scored in the first half and he came in and he battered me. He just went at me and I felt it wasn’t deserved.
“And I went back at him and probably went back a bit too far. It was a bit disrespectful.
“And he spoke to me after that. And made it clear that I can’t speak to him like that.
“And then I went out and scored another two. So I scored a hat-trick in the game.
Patching things up
“It was always after the game, it was on the bus. This is where he was always brilliant.
“He’d be sat on the bus and he’d walk past you and get a tea or a coffee.
“And he walks back past you, he’d give you a little slap on the head and that was his way of saying it’s forgot about.
“So you were half waiting for it. I think you would be more worried if it didn’t come.
“It was necessary as well at times. I think sometimes it gets blown a bit out of propotion.
“Because he was really light-hearted as well. But when he went of course he was scary and intimidating.”
