Wayne Rooney recalls ‘moving and emotional’ Munich disaster talk from Sir Bobby Charlton to Man United players in 2008, as he adjusts to new role as Birmingham City manager

• Wayne Rooney prominently remembers Sir Bobby Charlton’s talk in 2008 
• Charlton spoke to the Man United squad about the 50th anniversary of Munich  
• Follow Mail Sport’s new Man United WhatsApp channel for all the breaking news 

Wayne Rooney cherishes his every encounter with Sir Bobby Charlton but one in particular stands prominently among them all.

Sir Bobby, who died on Saturday aged 86, shared a strong relationship with Rooney during the former England captain’s 13 years at Old Trafford, with the pair often having conversations about matters on and off the pitch.

Yet Rooney still recalls vividly the address Charlton gave to the United players around the time of the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster. Charlton survived the crash in February 1958, in which 23 people died, and said many years later that there wasn’t ‘a day that goes by I don’t remember what happened and the people who are gone.’

Rooney said: ‘Before a Champions League game in 2008, he spoke to the whole team about what happened in ‘58, which was very moving and emotional. I think it was the 50th anniversary.

‘He lost a lot of friends in the accident and talking about it must have been pretty hard. It is a great loss to football.

Wayne Rooney met Sir Bobby Charlton many times, with a Munich disaster chat prominent

Sir Bobby, who died on Saturday, shared a strong relationship with Rooney at Man United

‘When you have moments with people who have so much experience and have gained so much throughout the game, sometimes you can take it for granted when you speak to them.

‘It is only when you lose them you look back and think about what they have done for you. It really puts things into perspective, for sure.’

Rooney does not plan to attend Tuesday’s Champions League game between United and FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford as he prepares for his first home game as Birmingham manager.

Blues were beaten 1-0 at Middlesbrough last Saturday in Rooney’s first game at the helm. Rooney is trying to introduce a bolder playing style and knows his players must adapt quickly – as he did during his United career.

‘I played alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy, then Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Louis Saha, Dimitar Berbatov, Robin van Persie,’ recalled Rooney, who turned 38 on Tuesday. ‘Whenever players come in, you’re always feeling they could take your place.

‘But you fight for your place and what you want. As a manager, there’s a change. There will be moments where it’s difficult but once you get through that bedding in period, you’ll see the benefit.’

Rooney is preparing for his first home game as Birmingham manager after Saturday’s defeat

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