Soccer: Champions League 2011: Rooney skips training ahead of Schalke clash

Resham Ahmed May 4, 2011 0

Soccer: Champions League 2011: Rooney skips training ahead of Schalke clash

MANCHESTER: A day ahead of the crucial clash against Schalke 04 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2011 semi-final, the top striker of Manchester United, Wayne Rooney was made to skip training due to a tight hamstring.

Wayne Rooney.

However, the Red Devils have no danger of losing the striker as Rooney will be fit for the home leg of the Champions League last-four encounter.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United boss, told a press conference at Old Trafford Tuesday, “He didn’t train this morning, he has a tight hamstring. He’ll be alright tomorrow”.

Manchester United defeated the German soccer club in Germany by two goals to nil and are in a comfortable position in the home leg but Sir Alex Ferguson has another dilemma to cater to.

The title race in the Barclays English Premier League (EPL) is getting hotter and after Sunday’s defeat against Arsenal, Manchester United are hosting the title challengers Chelsea with only three points separating the top two.

In the emergent situation, Ferguson is trying to rest some of his key players in the semi-final so as to have them fresh for the match against Chelsea.

The coming Sunday’s match between Manchester United and Chelsea will one way or the other decide the EPL 2011 champion.

In a bid to save his key men for the bigger clash, Ferguson has hinted at launching Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen in the semi-final encounter against Schalke 04.