Rooney: I didn't deserve axe over night out
Published 22:32 11/01/12 By David McDonnell
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Rooney was fined - along with Manchester United team-mates Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson - after turning up for training the worse for wear following a Boxing Day night out.
England striker Rooney was also dropped for United's 3-2 defeat by Blackburn at Old Trafford on New Year's Eve, after Fergie decided to get tough and make an example of his most high-profile player.
Rooney said disagreements between players and manager are inevitable, and claimed he had to accept his punishment - even though he did not agree with it.
"The life in a dressing room, between players, between us and the coach, between us and loads of people, it's continuous confrontation and at times it's harsh."
Asked if he was angry at Ferguson's decision to fine him a week's wages - around £200,000 - and drop him, Rooney added: "Yes, but for reasons that I can't make public.
"I accepted it. But I was tense when I got back on the pitch [United lost 3-0 to Newcastle and Rooney was subbed] and I believe it showed."
Rooney also defended himself against accusations from Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini that he helped get Vincent Kompany sent off in United's 3-2 FA Cup third round win last Sunday.
Mancini criticised Rooney for holding two fingers up to ref Chris Foy, to indicate Kompany's challenge on Nani was two-footed and therefore worthy of a straight red card, which the official produced.
But Rooney, speaking to Italian newspaper La Republica, said: "It's a question of points of view. He claimed that I encouraged the referee to send off Kompany with a gesture.
"If it were like that, every player who makes that gesture after suffering a foul would direct the game in place of the referee and obviously it can't be like that.
"The fact it was a legitimate sending-off was confirmed by the four-match suspension and the rejection of the appeal."
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