‘An Absolute Disgrace!’ – Wayne Rooney Reveals Carlos Tevez Was His ‘Worst Trainer’ at Man Utd

Wayne Rooney has delivered a brutally honest assessment of former Manchester United strike partner Carlos Tevez, describing the Argentine as the “worst trainer” he ever encountered despite his huge impact on matchdays.

Rooney and Tevez formed part of one of Manchester United’s most feared attacking units during the late 2000s, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and later Dimitar Berbatov.

While their partnership helped United dominate English and European football, Rooney has now revealed that Tevez’s approach during training sessions was dramatically different from what he produced on matchdays.

Rooney: Tevez Was ‘An Absolute Disgrace’ in Training

Speaking on the Stick to United podcast alongside Berbatov, Rooney explained that the four forwards had very different personalities and approaches to football.

When the conversation turned to Tevez, however, the former England captain did not hold back.

“For instance, if you looked at Tevez in training he was an absolute disgrace. He was the worst trainer I’d ever seen in my life!”

Despite the harsh assessment, Rooney immediately acknowledged why Tevez’s teammates and coaches were willing to accept his unusual training habits.

“But then as a team-mate or the manager, we would accept it because he would go on the pitch and put all his energy on the pitch which was great.”

That contrast between Tevez’s training performances and his competitive intensity helped explain why he remained such an important player for Sir Alex Ferguson.

United’s Star-Studded Attack

Tevez joined Manchester United in 2007 after helping West Ham United avoid relegation and quickly became a fan favourite at Old Trafford.

His arrival gave Ferguson another world-class attacking option and helped create a formidable forward line featuring Rooney, Ronaldo and, later, Berbatov.

During his two seasons at the club, Tevez was part of a United side that won six trophies, including back-to-back Premier League titles and the 2008 UEFA Champions League.

His time at Old Trafford eventually ended controversially when he moved across Manchester to join rivals Manchester City.

Rooney Reveals Unusual Relationship With Tevez

Rooney also recalled how he and Tevez developed a relationship away from the pitch despite the Argentine’s limited English at the time.

The competition for places was intense, but Rooney said the players learned how to understand each other’s strengths and personalities.

“There was competition between us all to play.”

Rooney revealed that he would sometimes pick Tevez up from his home, including trips to the airport for Champions League matches.

“Tevez couldn’t really speak much English. It was interesting actually, I used to pick Tevez up from his house and sometimes we’d go to the airport for Champions League games because it was nearby, but somehow we managed to have a conversation. It was weird!”

Rooney admitted that he had a particularly strong friendship with Ronaldo, but stressed that understanding his teammates was essential once they stepped onto the pitch.

“When you’re on the pitch you have to recognise who you’re playing with, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are.”

Ferguson’s United Never Stopped Improving

Rooney also explained how Sir Alex Ferguson maintained Manchester United’s competitive edge by constantly looking for ways to improve the squad.

The arrival of Berbatov in 2008, shortly after United had won both the Premier League and Champions League, was a perfect example.

“Where United were then with Sir Alex Ferguson, we’d just won the Premier League, we won the Champions League and then we go and sign him [Berbatov] to improve on what we’ve got and achieved.”

For Rooney, that mentality was a major reason why United remained successful for so long.

He suggested that players were constantly challenged by new signings and competition for places.

“That’s how successful teams continue to be successful.”

Competition Made United Better

Rooney believes the arrival of top-quality players created an environment where nobody could afford to become complacent.

With Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Berbatov competing for attacking positions, every player knew that a drop in standards could cost them their place.

“We’ve signed Berbatov now… we’ve got four unbelievable forwards, so you needed to be at your best.”

That mentality, according to Rooney, was central to Ferguson’s Manchester United.

And while Tevez may have been an “absolute disgrace” in training in Rooney’s eyes, his performances when it mattered most ensured that his teammates were more than willing to live with it.