In a stunning revelation that pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of the England national team, Wayne Rooney has delivered a brutal assessment of former teammates Michael Owen and Joleon Lescott.
The legendary striker and former captain didn't mince his words, branding both players as 'lazy' in training during their international careers. This explosive claim comes from Rooney's new podcast, 'The Overlap', where he discussed the varying levels of commitment he witnessed while representing the Three Lions.
A Culture of Complacency
Rooney highlighted a stark contrast between the relentless work ethic he experienced at club level with Manchester United and the more relaxed environment within the England setup. 'With England, there was a big thing on, if you weren't playing, you wouldn't train properly,' Rooney revealed.
He pointed the finger directly at two high-profile names: 'Michael Owen and Joleon Lescott were the worst.' According to Rooney, their approach to non-playing days was particularly poor. 'They'd just literally go through the motions, and it used to drive me mad.'
The Worst Offenders
Rooney's criticism was especially pointed towards the latter part of Owen's career and throughout Lescott's time with the national team. 'Joleon would just amble around the pitch, literally not breaking a sweat,' he recounted.
The former Everton and United star admitted this lackadaisical attitude created friction, revealing he would often confront players about their poor effort. His frustration stemmed from a simple, professional philosophy: 'I just thought, for me, every training session, you train properly, you train to win.'
A Clash of Footballing Cultures
This insight provides a fascinating glimpse into the challenges that have historically plagued the England team. Rooney suggested this was a systemic issue, contrasting it sharply with the environment at top clubs.
At Manchester United, under Sir Alex Ferguson, any drop in standards was met with immediate consequences. The 'hairdryer treatment' was a famous motivator. For England, however, a different, more complacent culture seemed to prevail, one that arguably contributed to the nation's decades of tournament disappointments.
Rooney's candid comments will undoubtedly spark debate among fans and pundits about the standards required for international success and whether the current England squad under Gareth Southgate has successfully eradicated this old-school mentality.
