Wayne Rooney didn’t come to D

United. “You agree to come canadian goose jacket here, you need to adapt,” he said. United’s wondrous victory late https://www.pick-canadagoose.com Sunday a feat that sent shared video ricocheting around Europe when the workweek dawned a few hours later it’s important to step back five days to a steamy afternoon in a rooftop bar on Audi Field’s north end.

The space is empty, except for Rooney, his wife and eldest of four sons dressed in United gear, two team staffers and a couple of reporters. The family is about to go house hunting, but first, the English superstar agrees to discuss his first five weeks in Washington.

Canada Goose sale He answers questions about becoming the newly minted captain and adjusting to a new club, new league and new routine. (For the first time in his storied soccer career, for instance, team flights are commercial and hotel quarters come with a roommate.) Canada Goose sale

The conversation then pivots to an issue that confronts every famous player that has landed in blossoming MLS after their prime canada goose years: Are you taking this seriously or just here to collect a fat paycheck and fade into retirement?

“I understand people might get frustrated when they see players coming over maybe a bit later in their career,” he said in uk canada goose outlet a soft voice barely audible over construction outside the new stadium. “But that’s for me to show with performances that I’m not here just to be on holiday. I’m here to work, and I’ll have plenty of time when I finish playing to enjoy myself and have holidays.”

canada goose coats Every player will say such things, but will they back it up? By the weekend, he had. Any lingering doubts about Rooney’s commitment to United’s cause and, for the time being, his physical capacity to continue performing at a high level were put to rest in the vanishing Canada Goose Jackets moments of an even match with visiting Orlando City on Sunday night. canada goose coats

buy canada goose jacket In a matter of seconds, he both prevented defeat and invited victory. buy canada goose jacket

canadian goose jacket With legs that skeptics claimed wouldn’t hold up in a physically demanding league, Rooney, 32, chased down an opponent in the open field, making a clinical tackle as Will Johnson was lining up a distant shot toward a vacant net, then regained his footing before launching a cross field pass that met Luciano Acosta’s cranium for the go ahead goal deep into stoppage time for a 3 2 triumph. canadian goose jacket

A four time MLS Cup champion, United has enjoyed many memorable moments since its birth in 1996. This one, which unfolded at a critical juncture in Canada Goose Coats On Sale a losing season, will undoubtedly ascend to near the top of the list.

Canada Goose online Over the years, there have been spectacular goals and dramatic finishes, stirring comebacks and playoff theater. But one would be hard pressed to summon a single sequence featuring so many uncommon elements: a goalkeeper in the attacking end for a team desperate for three points; a striker executing a defensive gem; canada goose outlet canada goose factory sale the same player supplying a long distance assist; and the shortest player on the field scoring on a header to cap his first MLS hat trick. Canada Goose online

canada goose deals Coach Ben Olsen doesn’t review match highlights until the following day. He made an exception for Canada Goose Parka this one. canada goose deals

Canada Goose Jackets “It was one of those nights we will all remember,” Olsen said Tuesday. Selfless play. That is what type of guy he is. canada goose black friday sale He has elevated our group in a lot of ways.” Canada Goose Jackets

Rooney first endeared himself to the home supporters July 28 by battling an opponent with a 10 canada goose coats on sale inch height advantage in defending a corner kick and, in the process, suffering a broken nose and a facial cut that required five stitches. In the Canada Goose Outlet subsequent match, dismissing suggestions to wear a mask, he blocked a ball with his face, a canada goose clearance sale blow that drew additional blood.

While upgrading his fitness level after a two month cheap canada goose uk layoff, canada goose coats he has started four of six matches and recorded a goal and three assists. (Amid three games in eight days, he might not start Wednesday against the Portland Timbers at Audi Field.)

canada goose black friday sale Rooney has forged chemistry with Acosta, the 5 foot 3 playmaker from Argentina, and attackers Yamil Asad and Zoltan Stieber. He has provided leadership on a team with canada goose uk black friday 13 of 27 players, including seven regulars, who are 25 or younger. canada goose black friday sale

And behind the scenes, he has gone to great lengths to bond with teammates, an Canada Goose online outreach that has smoothed the midseason transition for everyone and strengthened team unity ahead of a playoff push.

“You don’t know what to expect when a guy like him arrives, but when he first got here, he went around the locker room and had conversations with everyone,” defender Steve Birnbaum said. “He wants to get to know you. He also demands a lot from people. He’s a winner and people see he is giving the push we need.”

Before accepting Olsen’s invitation to become captain a role that was vacant until this summer Rooney approached Birnbaum, the 2017 leader.

Canada Goose Parka “The canada goose uk outlet first thing I said to Ben was, ‘Let me speak to Steve,’ ” Rooney said during last week’s interview with The Post and Sports buy canada goose jacket Illustrated. “If when I was captain of Manchester United and a new player came in and was made captain after two weeks, I wouldn’t necessarily be Canada Goose sale too pleased.” Canada Goose Parka

canada goose store Birnbaum wasn’t the formal captain this year no one wore the armband but he was a de facto leader. canada goose store

canada goose coats on sale “I thought Wayne should be captain,” he said. “His word holds more meaning to people. I want him to lead this team. He was great about it. It was cool for him to come up to me and talk about it.” canada goose coats on sale

Birnbaum calls himself Rooney’s “right hand man now.”

canada goose clearance Olsen described the onetime English national canada goose store team captain as “not overly vocal or micromanaging every guy, but he gets it. His Canada Goose Online actions on the field the other night has bumped him up into a different category now with his teammates and the fans.” canada goose clearance

buy canada goose jacket cheap Before offering Rooney the largest contract in club canada goose uk shop history (an estimated $5 million per year guaranteed through at least 2020), United wanted to ensure he would come for the right reasons. With so much money invested, the club did not want to get stuck as some MLS teams have with a high profile player more concerned about economic victories than 90 minute victories. buy canada goose jacket cheap

canada goose “We spoke to the people who know him,” Olsen said. “It’s not in his DNA. But guys like him always uk canada goose have to prove themselves because of the pressure of coming here and the name recognition and the money spent on him. But he cheap Canada Goose lives with that. That’s what these guys do; they have something in them that keeps pushing them to succeed.” canada goose

cheap Canada Goose Rooney’s acclimation has involved several facets. On the field, he said, he has noticed greater emphasis on athletic ability than tactics. cheap Canada Goose

canada goose clearance sale “The games can be a bit more open,” he said. “When you’re young, all you want to do is go and play and try to score goals, but you obviously can’t do that all game. Once we get the balance right, the team will progress even more.. They’re still trying to learn my game and I’m still trying to learn the rest of the players.” canada goose clearance sale.