Wayne Rooney said becoming Manchester United’s joint record goalscorer, on 249 goals, with Sir Bobby Charlton was a “proud moment” after his seventh-minute strike against Reading set the FA Cup holders on the way to a resounding 4-0 victory.
The finish at Old Trafford that drew him level with Charlton came when he beat Reading’s Ali al-Habsi with his right knee. “It’s a proud moment, especially to do so at such a massive club like Manchester United,” Rooney said. “I’m hugely honoured to be able to play for this football club, and to be up there in terms of goals with Sir Bobby is a really proud moment for me. Hopefully I’ll be there out on my own soon, but I’ll enjoy today because it’s a real honour.
“I’m enjoying my football and I’m thankful to score again. It’s a huge part of my life this football club and I’m really honoured to be up there alongside Sir Bobby. Of course you want to break records in front of your home fans.
“We’ve got two home games coming up [this week] so, hopefully, I can get the next one in one of those games. I’m delighted for today though and, more importantly, the result. There were a lot of changes and the lads have come in and shown they’re ready if needed.”
United next play on Tuesday night, against Hull City in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg, but it is not certain whether Rooney will get the chance to reach 250 as United’s manager, José Mourinho, intends to make sweeping changes to his starting XI.
Liverpool are next Sunday’s opponents and, as a proud Evertonian, Rooney would relish breaking the record against United’s and his boyhood club’s fiercest rivals.
Mourinho said: “I think the best day will arrive, this is not the best day for him, the best day will arrive, it’s just a question of when.
“It’s amazing because everybody knows who Sir Bobby is and what he means for the history of the club and the history of English football, and for Wayne to score the same number of goals for Manchester United is fantastic. But, again, the best day will arrive. The best day is the day he scores the next goal and becomes the top scorer in the history of Man United, and that’s an amazing thing.”
