Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has revealed to FourFourTwo that he would rather play on his own up front for the Premier League champions than operate from a wide position. The 24-year-old was often seen in Ronaldo's day operating up and down the left flank before drifting inside to support forays forward.
Speaking in the February issue of FourFourTwo Rooney reveals how his role at Old Trafford has changed.
"Over the last two or three seasons I had to play a lot out wide and Ronaldo played through the middle, so that's changed," he says.
"When Ronaldo was out wide, you knew he would come inside and shoot, do a few tricks."
Following the departures of both Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, Rooney has returned to his more familiar centre-forward position, operating alongside a strike partner while occasionally being left to fend for himself.
"You have to run the channels [playing alone up front], hold the ball up, bring team-mates into play," he says.
"When the ball goes wide you get into the box, in a good position. The most important thing is holding the ball up, though, because if you can't do that, it brings pressure on the team.
"You have to accept you're not going to get as much of the ball as you would as the man playing off; you won't get as many chances but it's my second favourite position after playing off another striker. Out wide would be third choice."
