Rooney blooms in Ronaldo's shadow

Indeed, there are plenty of United fans who, if forced to choose between the two Rs as the totem for United's future, would still rather see Ronaldo head for Madrid than lose the man who, by throwing himself so enthusiastically this season into his creativity-busting vigils as a lone striker, has endeared himself even more to them for his uncomplaining commitment to the cause.

They will also note that of the six games United have lost this season, four occurred when Rooney was absent and a fifth, at Chelsea last month, only after he had come off at 1-1 suffering from an injury incurred while netting the equaliser.

Off the pitch too, there's a relaxed confidence about the new Rooney which is quite striking for those who've watched him stumbling uncertainly through the oppressive spotlight which goes with being public property from the age of 16.

At 22, the once-monosyllabic teenager now seems comfortable with his lot on and off the field, happy enough to discuss everything from next month's marriage to Coleen to life with his other other-half, Ronaldo. He's changed as a player and a man, he believes, but some things never alter, like his sheer Tigger-like enthusiasm for a big match.

"It's a horrible feeling waiting for the final. I've been killing time playing FIFA on XBox online with my mates a lot . . . my girlfriend's not too happy with me." he smiled. "I'd just like to go to bed tonight and wake up and find it's Wednesday. It's a bit like Christmas when you were a kid. I just can't wait now."

He thought back to the last time United won the trophy - when he was a 13-year-old in Croxteth watching it on telly with his mates. "Most of them were Liverpool fans and there was just me and one mate who wanted United to win because we were Everton fans. I just remember when they won I was really happy and we wound the Liverpool fans up."

Old habits die hard. He'd love to stop some of the recent European crowing from that lot down the M62 corridor. "It's difficult when you see one of your rivals winning things. When Liverpool won it (in Istanbul), it was hard to take," he said. "Because they haven't really been challenging for the title in recent years, unlike us they've had the chances to rest players before big Champions League games. It is so hard to win both trophies but if we can beat Chelsea, it will be an incredible achievement."

Not to mention the perfect wedding gift. "Yeah, I think it would make it a lot better summer," smiled the man who's got to survive his stag weekend with Ricky Hatton in Vegas first.

"Losing wouldn't be unbearable, though. Your football and family lives are separate and you can't afford to sit around being grumpy."

Not that he's prepared to entertain a single negative thought. "Sir Alex's desire to win is stronger than I've ever seen it. But it's not a burden on us; we just need to go out and try to enjoy it."

He sounds as if he's never enjoyed his football more. Yes, even those lonely slogs up front he's savoured "a lot more than I thought". The old fire, as evidenced by 13 bookings this year, still bubbles dangerously beneath the surface but you can recognise a maturity now as he professes not to worry about people demanding miracles. "The only thing that matters is what I expect of myself."

Mind you, a burden of expectation shared can only help. "I hope the partnership [with Ronaldo] does becomes one of football's great ones and will continue for years," mused Rooney. "It would be brilliant if we could keep Cristiano at the club for as long as possible."

Yes, brilliant for United but, starting as early as Wednesday night, potentially calamitous for their chief pursuers.