Wayne Rooney has expressed that he would not accept another championship medal, even if Manchester City are stripped of their Premier League title for the 2011/12 season. The former Manchester United captain believes that Alex Ferguson's team let the championship slip and does not deserve to receive it in hindsight.
United finished second to City on two occasions during the periods under investigation: in 2011/12 with Ferguson and again in 2017/18 under Jose Mourinho.
Rio Ferdinand previously stated that he would like to receive an additional championship medal for the 2011/12 season. David De Gea has also wondered whether he might be entitled to two more titles.
However, Rooney holds a different view:
I heard that Rio mentioned wanting another Premier League medal. To be honest, I would feel uncomfortable accepting it.
I don’t think we deserve it. In that season, we didn’t do enough to win the title. A few matches before the end, we had a lead of six or seven points, but we let it slip.
With just six matches left in the 2011/12 season, United held an eight-point advantage over Manchester City. However, defeats to Wigan and City, along with a 4-4 draw against Everton, allowed their rivals to claw back into the title race. Ultimately, Roberto Mancini's side claimed the championship on goal difference.
Rooney also pointed out that any potential title stripping would hit the Manchester City players hard, particularly if they were unaware of the actions taken by the club’s hierarchy:
I tried to put myself in the shoes of the City players. They’re professionals who did everything possible to win the Premier League, and in their minds, they won it.
If they had no idea what was happening at the upper level, I would feel utterly devastated if I were in their position.
While Rooney acknowledges the possibility of City losing their titles, he doesn't believe they should automatically be handed to other clubs:
It’s possible they could lose their medals. But I wouldn’t want mine because I don’t think we earned the championship that season. We didn’t finish in first place.
When I see former teammates saying, 'I want a medal,' I think differently. I’m content with the five titles I have won. I don’t need another.
Should they lose their titles due to the actions of the owners? Maybe. But it would feel uncomfortable for me to accept that medal.
