Wayne Rooney: Why I became more vocal after Arsenal defeat

MANCHESTER UNITED skipper Wayne Rooney has stressed why he has had to become more vocal in the dressing room.

Wayne Rooney Player Profile

The 29-year-old has given motivational pre-match talks this term, and they have had the desired effect, with United clinching vital wins over Tottenham and Liverpool in recent weeks.

Rooney has thrived as captain with the Red Devils sitting in third spot in the Premier League table.

And Rooney claims the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Arsenal last month, spurred him into life on the leadership front.

I just wanted to reiterate to the players what our targets were for the remaining games of the season

Wayne Rooney

"We had had a bad defeat in the FA Cup against Arsenal (2-1 on March 9) and I just wanted to reiterate to the players what our targets were for the remaining games of the season.

"The players responded to that and we have had some good results."

Rooney, who also skippers the England team, admitted he had big shoes to fill captaining his country.

Rooney, Manchester United, MUFC, Red Devils, captain, ArsenalGETTY

Wayne Rooney (top right) relishes being Manchester United captain

"You can obviously look how people have done it before you," he added.

"Giggsy wasn't captain here full-time in my time at United but the things he's done have been a big help and still now. There were also leaders like Roy Keane, Gary Neville and David Beckham. There was Steven Gerrard and John Terry (for England), who were fantastic captains.

"There are different styles and different ways other people have done it. But I have to be my own person and do what I feel is the best way for me to captain the team. That is all I try to do."

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