Wayne Rooney watches ex-Premier League star recreate iconic Man United goal for Plymouth in stunning scenes
Wayne Rooney was ecstatic to see Plymouth saved on Friday night by two incredible goals from former Premier League great Andre Grey.
Grey salvaged a crucial point as Argyle tried to pull away from the Championship relegation zone by equalising twice in the 2-2 draw against his old team, Watford, at the Home Park stadium.
Rooney might have experienced a flashback to April 2013 while he was standing on the sidelines in the 22nd minute.
The ball dropped down over Gray’s shoulder past a defenceless keeper after Lewis Gibson, a few yards past the halfway line, chipped it for Grey to hit.
It brought back memories of the Old Trafford game against Aston Villa, when Rooney hit a crisp ball from just behind the halfway line to Robin van Persie, who hit it flawlessly on the volley and sent it flying past Brad Guzan.
Deep into stoppage time in the second half, Grey scored his second goal, which was as impressive.
The home crowd went crazy as the 33-year-old caught the ball on the box’s edge in the last seconds and curled a stunning shot into the top corner.
“We’ve done it a few times now, and there is that belief, especially when the fans get behind you,” Rooney stated, adding that he was sure we could score a late goal.
“They have the league’s top player, but I felt we did a good job of catching up after the first ten minutes and falling behind by a goal.
“In the second half, we played better and spread our center-backs out a little more.”
“We created a few more chances and the lads who came on made a difference.”
Gray joined the Hornets in October on a deal that runs until January and Rooney is confident the club will talk to the striker about a longer stay.
The former England captain added: “It was a fantastic goal from Andre. It’s really difficult to score like that, a ball over the shoulder, I know how difficult that is to take, and it’s a world-class finish.
“Andre’s second goal had a fantastic finish.
“The many games we have planned between now and January demonstrate his calibre.
“I am sure before January there will be conversations about him staying.”
The goal of Man United’s new manager, Ruben Amorim, is to bring back the success of Rooney and Van Persie’s era after a challenging decade.
Since Amorim has a lot of work to do to unite the team—a process made more challenging by injuries—he will most likely start a makeshift backline at Portman Road.
After the renowned Jose Mourinho, he is the second Portuguese manager of Manchester United.
Amorim disclosed during the news conference on Friday that he received a message from Mourinho.
“He told me in a message that it’s a large club with beautiful people, and he’s right, it still is,” Amorim remarked. “We’re constructing a new club.
“I am a different guy. I hope to teach something different here to my players. It’s the best club in England. We want to win, that’s all.”
His philosophy and style of play may take a while for the players to learn, especially as it is heavily rumoured the formation will shift to a 3-4-3.
Speaking on his tactics, he explained: “As a coach, you have to choose one way or another. I choose always 100 per cent our way. I prefer to risk a little bit but to push in the first moment.
“If they feel that since the first day that I believe so much in our way of playing, they will believe too. So, there is no second doubts, no second way. It’s one way and we are going to do it.
“We will adapt some players because we don’t have the right profile. This team was built for a different system
“But it’s the same thing playing with five or four. The principles are the same. The positioning is a little bit different.
“Maybe on Sunday when you will see the list of players, the starting 11, you don’t feel a lot of change. But you will feel it in the game in the positioning, in the way they receive the ball or to cover the ball. You see some changes.
