Wayne Rooney says Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson won't accept passengers at the club.

Asked why Ferguson, who has been in charge at Old Trafford for 26 years this month, was so inspirational, Rooney said his ethos boiled down to one thing - hard graft.

"You'll listen to him give a team-talk and at the time, you'll think, 'Why's he saying this?'" Rooney told Shortlist. "Then it hits you and you're ready to go.

"The boss' words always hark back to hard work. People win things in football, in business, in life because they work hard and despite all the talent in the dressing room he makes us remember that we must put the hours in.

"The quality is there; you are Manchester United, of course it is. But what wins us things is effort."