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Wayne Rooney has revealed he is receiving feedback from Sir Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes during his difficult first managerial job at Derby County.
After ending his glittering playing career and replacing Phillip Cocu at the East Midlands club, Rooney has had a challenging time in management.
After he helped keep Derby up on a dramatic final day of the Championship last season, the club entered administration and were subsequently docked 12 points by the EFL.
A further nine-points deduction was imposed due to the Rams admitted breaching accounting regulations but Rooney has been able to galvanise the group and lead them to seven wins so far in the league.
They are 11 points adrift of Reading, who have 22 points from 23 games so far.
And Rooney has been talking about how three of the top-level managers he worked with have been providing valuable feedback.
"Fergie's man-management was by the far the best. Of course you need relationships with players, but you also need that authority,' Rooney said during a chat the Athletic.
"Tactically, (Louis) Van Gaal was very good, but he was too honest, if you like. He'd speak to an 18-year-old the same way you'd talk to a 35-year-old.
"It's about getting that balance right and letting the young lads play without fear.
"I’ve spoken to Van Gaal, to Moyesy [David Moyes], to Alex Ferguson. Not so much for advice, more for a bit of feedback.
"It’s hard for them to give advice because when you’re where this club is, in administration, it’s very different from a normal manager’s job. We’ve got staff losing jobs.
'"We’re in a transfer window where, if things aren’t sorted, other teams can pick off our players."
As a player, England and Manchester United's record goalscorer was a fiery character and one who would lose his temper on occasion.
At the same time, playing on the edge and with aggression helped him churn in some of his best performances.
These days, Rooney says he has mellowed, however and is never one to dish out the hairdryer treatment.
He added: "'[I'm] Very calm, actually.
"I'm honest with the players. In our first meeting, I said to them, 'You'll have your days off to be with your families but, when you are at work, if you're not prepared to work hard and do it like I want, you can leave now'.
Topics: Wayne Rooney, Derby County, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Everton, David Moyes
Josh Lawless