Wayne Rooney says today’s defenders are “nowhere near” the standard of the greats he faced in his career.
He praised Arsenal’s Saliba and Gabriel as the best current duo but below past legends.
Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has expressed doubt about the quality of today’s defenders, saying they are “nowhere near” the standard of the great players he faced in his career.
Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Wayne Rooney Show podcast’, the 39-year-old reflected on his 19-year career at the top level, much of which was spent competing in the Champions League with United. He explained that defenders from the current generation cannot be compared with the established names he battled against in the past. “In this current age, the centre-backs are nowhere near as good as the ones I played against,” Rooney said.
Despite his criticism, the former striker singled out Arsenal duo William Saliba and Gabriel as the best partnership in the Premier League right now. According to him, their strength lies not just in defending but also in how they lead the backline. “Saliba and Gabriel complement each other really well,” he noted, adding that the two are “talkers and leaders,” qualities he considers essential for any successful defensive unit.
Even with that praise, Rooney was quick to state that the pair do not match up to defenders from his playing days. He said they may be the strongest duo currently in the league but not on the same level as the legendary centre-backs of the past. “Would I put them at the same level as players I have played against? No, I wouldn’t. But they are possibly the best pairing on this day,” he explained.
Rooney also mentioned former teammates Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, describing them as two of the finest defenders he ever played alongside. He placed both men in his list of top five all-time defenders, highlighting their leadership, consistency, and ability to dominate on the biggest stages.
