Wayne Rooney reflects on his battles with legendary AC Milan pair Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta.

Wayne Rooney, the legendary Manchester United striker, has reflected on some of his toughest opponents during his illustrious career. In particular, he highlighted the formidable AC Milan duo of Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini as two players who gave him a run for his money.

Rooney faced the Italian defenders in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League semi-finals alongside his former teammate Rio Ferdinand. Despite managing to outshine Nesta and Maldini in a thrilling 3-2 victory at Old Trafford, the pair showcased their true brilliance in the second leg, where AC Milan emerged victorious with a resounding 3-0 win.

Rooney vividly remembers the intensity of the matches, stating, “I always remember playing AC Milan in the semi-final of the Champions League. Obviously, we went on to play in finals, but that was the first semi-final. I remember when we beat them 3-2 here (at Old Trafford) and after 10 minutes I could hear them breathing, and I remember thinking: ‘we’ve got them.’ And then when we went to the San Siro, they were like Rolls Royces. I don’t know how they did it.”

Rooney and Ferdinand would later go on to win the Champions League together in the following season, triumphing over Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. However, Rooney admits that facing Chelsea, particularly under the management of Jose Mourinho, was a daunting task.

He confesses, “The only team really which I could never win against for a few years was Chelsea. I used to hate going to Stamford Bridge, and it was when Mourinho was there the first time. They were horrible to play against, solid and organized.”

Despite the challenges posed by Chelsea, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United squad eventually managed to close the gap and secure the Premier League title in the 2006/07 season, ending a four-year wait. Rooney reflects on his doubts during that period, stating, “I always remember thinking, ‘I don’t know how anyone is going to stop them?’ Then obviously we did, but it was always a tough game against them.”

Rooney’s recollections provide a fascinating insight into the battles he faced against some of the greatest players and teams in football history. His admiration for Nesta, Maldini, and the Chelsea side managed by Mourinho showcases the immense talent and competitiveness that defined his career.