London: Star striker Wayne Rooney is determined to start the new season ''with a bang'' - by putting Manchester City in their place in Sunday''s Community Shield shootout.
The Manchester United striker insists that the prospect of a fiercely contested derby before the Premier League campaign gets underway has given pre-season training an extra edge.
"You couldn't get better motivation to start the season with a bang. It's a great way to start pre- season training, knowing at the end of the hard work, before the games begin, there's a Manchester derby. Playing City in the Community Shield is the best way to start,” the Sun quoted Rooney, as saying.
That proved the springboard for City to lift their first piece of silverware in 35 years as they disposed of Stoke in the final.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, August 05, 2011, 15:04