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Rooney hits back at Big Sam
- Updated: October 4, 2016
Wayne Rooney has accused Sam Allardyce of allowing him to be “battered” by saying he played “wherever he wanted to” for England.
Allardyce made the remarks immediately following England’s 1-0 win over Slovakia, when Adam Lallana netted the winner in the 95th minute.
England captain Rooney was roundly criticised after the game, which saw him start on the left of midfield alongside Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier in a 4-3-3 formation before dropping deeper once Dele Alli was introduced as a substitute.
The Manchester United star bristled at the suggestion he felt he had a carte blanche to operate wherever he wanted for the national team and revealed Allardyce apologised to him on the plane home from Trnava for suggesting as much to the media.
“Sam came out and said I play where I want but it couldn’t be further from the truth, I play to instructions,” Rooney said, admitting the questions over his role are grating.
“I got battered in many different ways for my performance, which I felt was actually a decent performance.
“I don’t pick myself, I haven’t ever picked myself. I didn’t come in and say: ‘I want to play here or there.’ I played where I was asked to play. That was a big …
