I went out partying with Roo night we thrashed United 6-1! - 7M sport

I went out partying with Roo night we thrashed United 6-1!



I have a say

Posted Sunday, January 08, 2012 by The Sun

I went out partying with Roo night we thrashed United 6-1!
BEACH BOYS ... close pals Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney

JOE HART looked down at his phone and saw that it was Wayne Rooney calling.

Not a big surprise as the England team-mates were supposed to be meeting up that night to celebrate the Manchester United striker's 26th birthday.

The only trouble was earlier that afternoon Manchester City had humiliated United 6-1 at Old Trafford.

So City's keeper admitted he picked up wondering if the big night out was about to be scrapped.

But Rooney was actually calling to urge his pal not to feel uncomfortable about showing up for the striker's bash at his favourite Chinese restaurant in Manchester.

Hart said: "The party was all pre-arranged before the game so everyone knew it could end up being a bit tricky. But Wayne called and said 'Don't feel funny about coming. It's OK'.

"That was great because we were celebrating his birthday, not a football match.

"If it had been the other way round I'd like to think I would still have turned up."

Rooney said: "We knew before the game that whichever team won it wouldn't have been nice for the losers. But you have to get on with it and get over it.

"I won't be looking back on it — that's for sure. I don't ever want to look back on that!"

Neither Hart nor Rooney expects a similarly one-sided outcome this time around. And City's 24-year-old stopper certainly expects to be busier tomorrow.

He grinned: "That 6-1 was all a bit surreal — in fact, it was mind-blowing.

"I was shaking my head through most of it thinking 'What is going on here?'.

"I didn't do too much to help us win the game, just lean on the post and enjoy watching the lads do their stuff. And they were great.

"It was fantastic to be a part of it. It was a great feeling, a really amazing moment. To be a part of footballing history and a result that people will remember all their lives. It was special."

The special camaraderie between the rivals — City's England midfielder Gareth Barry was another pal invited to Roo's birthday do — also means there is respect rather than enmity ahead of this eagerly awaited rematch.

Hart added: "I fully respect Manchester United. They are a big club, a great club with a lot of supporters — but so are we.

"They'll be hurting and there's been a bit of banter from fans in the street about it all. It's all pretty well meaning, though."

Disappointingly, it was not so well meaning at Old Trafford back in October where Hart was subjected to death threats from devastated United supporters.

Hart did not report the abuse and insisted he has moved on and bears no grudges.

He said: "I'm not going to lie, that stuff hurts you. Everyone wants to be liked, everyone wants people to think they are brilliant and I'm no different.

"Obviously, you're not going to be everybody's cup of tea. But I really hope people see me as a person, not just a Manchester City player. That's why it's nice to have that England link, too.

"It means not just City fans can support you."

Which leaves the people nearest and dearest to him to deliver a few home truths when they are required.

Hart added: "I have people around me, people I respect, who give me an honest opinion.

"All you can do is just keep trying to play as well as you can. Then as long as my team are happy and my family are happy, I'm happy."

But ask Hart how he gets away from football and he gives you a quizzical look.

He said: "I don't want to get away from football. It's who I am and that's great for me.

"I'm so lucky. What I want to do in life is what I actually do. And it doesn't get any better than that, does it?"

And it cannot get any better than 6-1, can it?



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