Down and out! David Moyes backs Wayne Rooney as Manchester United crash
Posted Thursday, April 10, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk
DAVID MOYES refused to make Wayne Rooney the whipping boy as Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League.
OUT: David Moyes' United were dumped out the Champions League
The England striker fluffed a great opportunity to put holders Bayern Munich to the sword and clinch a semi-final spot for Moyes' men.
But the under-pressure United boss stood firmly behind his star, who had agreed to have a pain-killing injection in his injured left foot just to play.
Rooney wasted a decent chance in the 62nd minute with the sides level at 1-1, and that proved to be the beginning of the end for United.
Moyes defended his hitman, who he felt showed signs of being hampered by his injury.
Moyes said: "It was a concern that he hadn't trained all week and he had taken an injection.
"At times, it looked like he was having a struggle striking the ball.
"But he is so vital to us, especially with Robin van Persie missing. He had a couple of opportunities but he couldn't take them."
There will be no Champions League football next season at Old Trafford for the first time in almost 20 years, but Moyes felt there was plenty of positives from the defeat in Germany.
He added: "I thought the boys did a great job. Our only crime was that we conceded less than 30 seconds after scoring.
"Bayern are a strong side and the holders and we made life difficult for them for long periods.
"We had to defend really well but we did create opportunities and it's disappointing we didn't do better with some of those.
"But I think the team has looked better and there have been signs of improvement. There were a lot of positives.
"We've not got Champions League football, which is disappointing, but the focus now is to get a team ready to get back in there."
United midfielder Michael Carrick said: "We put ourselves in a great position with the goal and then conceded so quickly afterwards.
"That was a big blow and it's bitterly disappointing. Their second goal was the killer."
Bayern boss Pep Guardiola said it was pure pressure that kept his side going.
"It's not easy here because you are expected to win, win, win and if you don't, then it's 'Wow' and people are asking questions," he said.
"There's a pressure playing here. We are the defending champions and it can be tough."
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