PSP Wayne Rooney reveals: This is the contribution the PSP made to Manchester United’s most successful era

[Dany28]

In an interview with former English footballer Wayne Rooney looked back on Manchester United's arguably most successful era. As the current manager revealed he believes Sony's PSP played a crucial role in the club's success. With the PlayStation Portable Sony launched its first handheld in Japan at the end of 2004 and in the West in 2005 putting the company in direct competition with the market leader. Although the PSP lost out in a direct comparison to the successful Nintendo DS it still sold over 80 million units worldwide and according to estimates. In an interview the former England legend and current manager Wayne Rooney looked back on the PSP era and revealed how the Sony handheld played a role in arguably the most successful era of English record champions Manchester United. Wayne Rooney played for Manchester United between 2004 and 2017. During this time he won the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Community Shield and the Europa League, Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup five times with the Red Devils.

Sony's handheld as a team-building measure​

At the launch of EA Sports FC 26 Rooney revealed that members of the Manchester United squad often played together on the PSP. According to Rooney this practice contributed to a closer team bond and played a significant role in Manchester United's successful era.

Rooney said: you know what we used to play? Not FIFA. At Manchester United I really think a big part of our success was playing PSP. Because it got us to communicate more. We played it on the plane and also on the team bus. "It was five against five. It was me, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, John O'Shea, and Wes Brown in a 5-on-5 match. It was called SOCOM on the PSP. It was an Army game." "You had to talk, act tactically, revive people when they were killed. I think that was a huge part of our success," Rooney continued. "Ask any player who played at the same time. It was amazing and in fact the way you played that game reflected how that player played on the pitch it was crazy."

As Rooney admitted this team-building exercise wasn't well received by all Manchester United players at the time. Some felt disturbed and particularly due to the noise it caused on team buses and planes.

A goalkeeper in search of peace​

According to Rooney then-Man United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was often particularly annoyed. "Of course, Edwin van der Sar was annoyed sometimes because for example we were sitting in the team bus and there was shouting everywhere while you were telling the others where you were," Rooney concluded. "And sometimes, when they only had one player left, you tried to get around them and catch them. So you communicated together and then van der Sar would always get annoyed and move away. He tried to get as far away from us as possible."

This article is nothing special but it shows how the PSP thrilled people and still thrills them today. Come on Sony you know what you have to do: give us a new PSP!

 

[DjQuick2008]

would explain why man united were enjoyable at that time went to see them in 2007 and 2010.

 

[qw90700]

Makes sense. Soccer is not my thing but I heard it's like normal thing in soccer that teams also train by playing soccer video games like the PES series lol. And in the army we were encouraged to play war-themed video games on PS3 by especially approved by my army lolol. Even the old AF high commanders that you wouldn't imagine they know what is a video game was asking us "do you play video games about war" lol.

Long story short video games despite it's not being designed for it they are used for entertainment purposes in the world. In that context it is the appeal that why simulators of anything being released. I bet Death Stranding is actually a "subtle" way to attract kids to grow up and be Amazon Delivery Dude™ lolol.

 

[ThunderBoy]

PSP rulz

 

[iamthemilkman]

Not a soccer person, however I loved the PSP. It's too bad the Vita's library paled in comparison. I tend to like "failed" consoles. I love Saturn, I love Dreamcast, I love Virtual Boy, I love Neo Geo AES and Pocket, etc., but the Vita just never did much for me. It has around 5 games that I liked. I barely ever use mine, I just charge it once or twice a year to keep the battery in good health.

 

[eyixon]

AWESOME

 

[qw90700]

Not a soccer person, however I loved the PSP. It's too bad the Vita's library paled in comparison. I tend to like "failed" consoles. I love Saturn, I love Dreamcast, I love Virtual Boy, I love Neo Geo AES and Pocket, etc., but the Vita just never did much for me. It has around 5 games that I liked. I barely ever use mine, I just charge it once or twice a year to keep the battery in good health.

Whattt? But PS Vita has tons of good visual novels!!! lolol

If we look about it based upon how much consoles sold, anything that wasn't a Sony console failed back then. Sony was a legendary street racer who finished the race and then Nintendo finished the race 10 hours later and then XBOX finished 1 hours later and Sega consoles finished 1 hours later. Sony shit was a cosmic shit lol.

If we look about it personally, since I like library of non-Nintendo consoles better except for NDS, 3DS and Wii U I can say any other Nintendo console was a huge failure for me even compared to Saturn and Dreamcast. When the Virtual Boy exists I cannot call any other console a failure lolol. It did sold way more than some others yet it is a physical manifestation of BS lolol. I would rather play Apple Bandai Pippin!!!