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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits that he is in the midst of his worst season in the Premier League.

Rooney scored 40 goals in 50 games for club and country in 2009-10, but after a dismal summer at the World Cup, injuries, difficult contract negotiations and tabloid scandal affecting his personal life, he has struggled to recapture his best form.

The striker was a key part of Manchester United’s 4-0 win over Wigan on Saturday and now says that he can make a major impact on the remainder of the season.

“I have to say it’s been a difficult season for me – probably the worst I’ve ever had,” Rooney told The News of the World. ”That week when I asked for a transfer was something I wouldn’t want to go through ever again, but I feel I made the right decision to stay because this club is always going to be challenging for trophies.

“I picked up a few niggles as well and missed a few games, so I didn’t really feel like I was playing a part. The good thing is that I feel fresh at a time when most players are picking up injuries or feeling jaded. I really want to kick on from here and have a big impact on the most important matches of the season.”

Rooney scored a stunning overhead kick to seal a 2-1 win against rivals Manchester City two weeks ago and he says that the goal could help turn his confidence around.

“The goal against City gave me a big lift because it was in such an important game. I’ve seen it again quite a few times and I’ll never get sick of it,” he added. “This is usually the time of year when we really go for it. We want the title back. It was hard losing it to Chelsea as we did.”

United travel to Chelsea on Tuesday, where they have not picked up an away win for nearly nine years and the striker is hoping to complete his rehabilitation and kill off the Blues’ title ambitions in the process.

“We’ve got a really terrible record at Stamford Bridge – in fact, I don’t think I have ever won there in my entire career,” he said. “I’ve got some pretty bad memories about the place, like the time when I fell down and broke my metatarsal just before the 2006 World Cup. But you get these things in football and there’s no way to explain them.

“It won’t play on our minds. If anything, it will make us even more determined to go there and win. It’s a really massive game and Chelsea need to win it more than we do. Hopefully the pressure will tell on them.

“I am a bit surprised to see them so far behind us in the league but I would never write them off completely. They have shown down the years they are a team capable of going on a long run of winning games.

“We can make it really hard for them by beating them but they will be thinking the same thing about us because it will have a big say on where the title goes.”

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Portuguese ace wants to bring titles to Old Trafford

Nani admits he is having his best season at Manchester United, but insists it means nothing without silverware at the end of it.

The Portugal winger, who arrived at the Premier League club in 2007, has played a key role in United’s campaign this term, scoring 10 goals and claiming 13 assists.

But the 24-year-old says he will only reflect on his individual achievements once the Red Devils, currently top of the league and still competing on three fronts, have brought trophies to Old Trafford.

Trophies

“It is my best season at United,” said Nani in the Daily Express.

“It is good to have that many goals and assists but the most important thing is to win the trophies with the team.

“When I have won the trophies I will look back at how I have contributed.”

Nani has inevitably been likened to compatriot and ex-United ace Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at the club.

But while the winger says he is friends with the Real Madrid star, he has shrugged off any comparisons.

“I don’t compare myself to Ronaldo or anyone else, I just think about myself and the club and what I can do for them,” he said.

“I know people liken me to Cristiano but I just want to be Nani, a good player who people enjoy watching.”

He added: “We are good friends. He spoke to me before the Marseille game and wished me good luck. He always tells me how well I am doing.”

Despite his prolific form this season, Nani says he is still working on his game in order to reach his full potential.

Improve

“I hope to improve much more,” he added.

“It is good for your confidence to know people are looking at you to win matches for the team. When you are on the pitch, it means you want the ball all the time because everything is going so well.

“I know, though, that I can do better. That is why I’m training hard every day and staying fit for every game.”

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Martinez adamant United striker should have been sent off

Sir Alex Ferguson expects a storm to be made over the incident which Roberto Martinez felt should have seen Wayne Rooney sent off against Wigan Athletic.

Manchester United striker Rooney appeared to catch Latics midfielder James McCarthy with his elbow during the early stages of his team’s 4-0 win at the DW Stadium.

Referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free-kick to Wigan, but chose not to take any action against England international Rooney.

After reviewing the incident, United boss Ferguson felt Clattenburg made the correct decision, although he still anticipates a media furore.

Unbelievable

“I have had a chance to see it,” said Ferguson. “There is nothing in it.

“But, what will happen, the question has been asked and because it is Wayne Rooney the press will raise a campaign to get him hung by Tuesday or electrocuted or something like that.

“It is unbelievable. Watch the press. It will be interesting to see it.”

However, Ferguson’s Wigan counterpart Martinez is adamant that Rooney should have been shown a red card for the challenge.

“I saw the incident clearly and the referee did as well because he gave the free-kick,” said Martinez.

“Once you give a free-kick it is quite clear that it is a red card. When you look at the replay, it is quite clear he catches James McCarthy in the face with his elbow.

“If one of my players had done that, I would think he was very lucky to stay on the pitch.

“It is a big call in the game. It is unfortunate because the referee saw it but he didn’t feel it was a red card.

“It was not because he was Wayne Rooney. It was an incident in the game. That is it.

“I saw the referee at half-time. He said he felt it was not a red card and that Rooney had just clipped McCarthy.”

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Christian Schulz’s late goal gave Hannover a hard-earned win at St Pauli and their club record 14th victory of the Bundesliga season to remain in the running for a Champions League place.

Schulz scored the only goal of the game in the 89th minute for Mirko Slomka’s team.

Hannover have collected three wins and a draw in their last four games to move to 44 points, in third place ahead of Bayern Munich’s late kick-off

After three straight wins, St Pauli suffered their second consecutive defeat to remain on 28 points.

St Pauli had the first chance of the game after 12 minutes but Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler was able to grab Jan-Philipp Kalla’s shot.

Hannover nearly grabbed the lead just three minutes later with Lars Stindl turning in from the right side and striking from 22 yards which bounced off the right post.

The game did not have many highlights but St Pauli keeper Thomas Kessler stopped Jan Schlaudraff’s attempt just after the hour mark and then saved Mohammed Abdellaoue’s rebound shot.

St Pauli’s Fabian Boll headed wide left in the 72nd minute and Matthias Lehmann blasted over the bar from the edge of the area 11 minutes later.

Hannover finally got on the scoreboard in the 89th minute from a set-piece with Sergio Pinto’s corner from the left side being headed home just inside the near left post by Schulz.

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Schalke’s fans were unable to hide their frustration after another abject performance from their side ended in a draw at home to Nurnberg.

Jens Hegeler put the visitors in front against the run of play in the 37th minute and both sides left the field to a chorus of disapproval from the home fans.

Raul earned Schalke a point with his goal in the 52nd minute, but Schalke’s wastefulness prevented them from finding a winner and the fans made their feelings known towards coach Felix Magath at the final whistle.

His future could now hinge on how the Royal Blues fare against Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday.

Raul had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute, but Raphael Schafer was alert to deny the Spaniard.

Eight minutes later, Raul had another chance with a header just over the crossbar as the home team made a strong start to the game.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar was the next Royal Blue to get a sight of goal after half an hour, but he also failed to hit the target from close range.

Raul was again denied by Schafer in the 35th minute and the home side were punished for their profligacy two minutes later when Nurnberg went ahead with their first real chance of the game.

Mehmet Ekici’s shot was only parried by Manuel Neuer to the feet of Hegeler, who had the simple task of tapping the ball in.

Nurnberg grew in confidence and ended the half in a crescendo, frustrating the home fans, who jeered their team off at the interval.

Schalke needed just seven minutes of the second half to draw level.

Raul was in the right place at the right time to take advantage of a defensive error by Markus Mendler and shoot into the far corner of Schafer’s goal.

The home team were now regaining the upper hand and Huntelaar and Raul both came close again, but Schafer was in fine fettle to deny them repeatedly.

Just like in the first half, Schalke risked conceding while they were on top of the game when Robert Mak’s shot was tipped over the crossbar by Neuer.

And Nurnberg probably should have stolen all three points in the 82nd minute when Mendler’s header hit the underside of the crossbar before he headed the rebound wide of the goal.

Yet it was another miss from Huntelaar which denied Schalke all three points in the last minute as he was outfoxed by Schafer in a one-on-one situation.

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