Wayne Rooney has anointed Robin van Persie’s volley against Aston Villa in 2013 as the best-ever Premier League goal – and lauded himself for a ‘perfect’ assist.
Van Persie hit a first-half hat-trick to sink Villa 3-0 at Old Trafford and wrap up Manchester United’s 13th Premier League title.
The second of those, a spectacular volley from 20 yards past Brad Guzan, holds its own against David Beckham, Michael Essien, and Jack Wilshere’s goal in conversations about the best Premier League goal of all time.
And Rooney told his BBC podcast: ‘I think, for me, that’s the best goal in Premier League history.
‘For a few days before the game, we worked on it in training because we knew James Collins and the other centre-back, we knew they weren’t the quickest.’
It should be noted that Collins had left Villa in 2012 – the centre-backs that day were Nathan Baker and Ron Vlaar. Perhaps Rooney’s memory eludes him, which is understandable after 13 years.
Wayne Rooney has called Robin van Persie’s volley against Aston Villa in 2013 the ‘best goal in Premier League history’
Rooney said that his pass for the goal was ‘perfect’ and the ‘best pass’ he ever played
He continued: ‘I was playing deeper than Robin in midfield and I said to him, “if I get it with time and I take a touch out of my feet, just run and I’ll find you.”
‘We practiced in training. There was a moment in the game were I took a touch, I saw him start running, and I played probably the best pass I’ve ever played.
‘It was perfect. He didn’t have to break stride. His finish was incredible. His technique. And that was to score his hat-trick and we won the league that day. For me that’s the best goal.
‘When you work on something, because it was planned, practice, a weakness we had seen in Villa and something we could take advantage of.
‘We never got it perfect like that in training but it shwos that if you practice things, during the game it pays off.
‘As soon as it left my foot, I thought, “right, I’ve done my job.” I knew it was perfect as soon as I did it. You needed the right height and curl on it, because if I don’t it will end up behind him, or if it’s flatter it’ll end up in front of him.
‘I knew I did it perfect and Robin with his technique, it was a great chance of scoring. Everything was perfect.’
Nowadays, Van Persie’s strike would be heavily scrutinised by VAR because he was, at minimum, incredibly close to being offside.
Van Persie’s previous comments support Rooney’s claim that they had practiced it
The Dutchman scored 26 goals in his first Premier League season at United after moving from Arsenal for £24m.
He went on to spend another two seasons with them after Sir Alex Fergsuon retired, but that was his crowning moment for the side.
‘There were so many special moments along the way, but probably the most special was the night we won the title against Aston Villa,’ he recalled.
‘When I look back on the best moments of my career, that night ranks very high.
‘Before the game, Wayne and I had a little chat on the pitch, and we talked to each other about him finding me in behind the Villa defence. We’d worked on it in training, too. There are a few things that have to come together, though, from the moment Wayne hits the pass.
‘First, you’re making a run for your space. Then, when you’ve finally got your space, you have to count your steps, because if my last step is too big or too small then I can’t really connect right. I have to have a quick look to see roughly where the ball will go. Then, just before I hit it, I need to have another look because I know already where the goal is. Of course, the pass has to be right as well.
‘It’s basically like taking a golf shot, but you’re doing it on the run. You have to get five or six things exactly right at once: the pass, the movement, the steps, the connection, the direction. You need a bit of luck too because if one thing is slightly off, the ball doesn’t go in. Everything came together in that moment.
‘You practise these things, you plan them, but when it comes off in a game like that, in the way it did, that’s what you dream of.
‘For me, that goal was a dream.’
