Wayne Rooney's long-held conspiracy theory about rival players deliberately undermining Manchester United has been spectacularly validated, with former opponent Phil Jagielka making a stunning confession about celebrating Manchester City's title triumph.
The Accusation That Haunted Rooney
For years, the Manchester United legend claimed that opposing teams would deliberately underperform against Manchester City to deny United the Premier League title. Many dismissed it as sour grapes from the Red Devils' record goalscorer, but new revelations suggest Rooney might have been right all along.
Jagielka's Shock Admission
Former England defender Phil Jagielka has now openly admitted that his Sheffield United team deliberately celebrated Manchester City's last-gasp title victory over Queens Park Rangers in 2012 - a result that snatched the championship from United's grasp in the most dramatic fashion.
"We were all in the dressing room watching it on the tele," Jagielka revealed. "We'd just got beaten by Spurs, but when City scored, the place went mental. We were all cheering."
The Infamous 2012 Title Decider
The moment remains etched in Premier League folklore. Manchester United had already beaten Sunderland and were celebrating what they thought was another title, only to discover that City had scored two injury-time goals against QPR to snatch the trophy.
While United players stood in stunned silence at the Stadium of Light, celebrations were erupting elsewhere - including in opposition dressing rooms, as Jagielka's confession confirms.
Rooney's Conspiracy Theory Proven Right
The revelation gives credence to Rooney's persistent claims that other teams had ulterior motives when facing United's title rivals. While some criticised the former striker for what they saw as paranoia, Jagielka's admission suggests there was genuine anti-United sentiment among Premier League players.
"It does stick in your throat a little bit," Rooney had previously said about the phenomenon. Now, his suspicions have been publicly confirmed by one of his former England teammates.
Broader Implications for Football Rivalries
This revelation opens up fascinating questions about the psychology of football rivalries and whether teams approach certain matches with agendas beyond simply winning points. The admission confirms that the Manchester clubs' rivalry extends far beyond their own fanbases and directly influences how other professionals approach the game.
For United supporters, it validates what they've long suspected - that their club's success generates such envy that even neutral parties actively work against them in the title race.
