Wayne felt a great weight

Published on Tuesday 6 July 2010 07:51

Sir Alex Ferguson claims the weight of expectation on Wayne Rooney was to blame for the striker's poor form at the World Cup.

Rooney failed to score in four matches and looked a shadow of the player who shone for Manchester United last season as England slipped out with a dismal 4-1 defeat to Germany.

The United manager was "not totally surprised" by England's failure - but believes Rooney will come back stronger for the experience.

Ferguson explained: "I think there was such expectation on him. There was talk he was going to be the player of the tournament.

"He was going to be the star, he was going to outshine them all (Lionel) Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo. So that level of expectation comes into it.

"And he's not got great experience of (playing in] the World Cup really. You wait, in four years' time you'll see a different player."

The Scot admitted he was "baffled" by England's poor form. He sai: "That is going to be one of the imponderables - what has really happened and why are they (England] not getting better form."