Rossi the natural-born finisher gunning to be United’s new baby-faced assassin
Posted in News on Friday January 20th, 2006 10:59am
Andy Hunter speaks to Giuseppe Rossi in the Independent
It was the diminutive Rossi who was the game’s outstanding performer, producing the vision and flair that Old Trafford demands and the penetration Ferguson has craved in recent seasons. His two goals took his tally for this campaign to four in 10 appearances but it was the invention that created goals for Kieran Richardson and Ryan Giggs, plus two excellent chances for the disappointing Louis Saha, that allowed the Premiership club to finally confirm their superiority over the Brewers.
“I enjoyed it because of the two goals, but getting an assist is just as important to me as scoring,” revealed Rossi yesterday. “I am always looking for the ball and trying to make something happen.”
The teenager’s awareness encouraged comparisons with Rooney, who was deeply embarrassed to be asked for his autograph by the entire Burton Albion team before kick-off, although bracketing Rossi alongside United’s No 8 on the basis of a good night’s work borders on hysteria.
Rooney is no giant but he has a frame to compensate while Rossi, at 5ft 9in in height, is yet to intimidate a team above non-League level. “I’m not the biggest of the bunch so it was good to score a header,” he said of his first goal on Wednesday.
Rossi does, however, have time for an education - “as a young player I am learning so much from Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy and the other guys,” - and, as well as being hailed by Ferguson as the most natural goalscorer at the club since Paul Scholes, he has already demonstrated a hunger to succeed at the highest level.
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