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Holding court this morning, Pep Guardiola wanted everybody to know that he wasn't for fooling. Oh no. This Rooney 'injury'? This 'swollen toe'? He wasn't having any of it.
Guardiola on Rooney: "100 per cent. He is going to play. I bet you a big big glass of beer". #mufc
— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) April 8, 2014
Clever Pep! Crafty Pep! No sooner had the entire press pack shuffled a bit, looked at their feet, and said 'no, you're alright', then news filtered through from United's open training session. Rooney was there! Running around and everything! Oh, wise Pep!
Guardiola called Rooney of the best players he has seen in his (PG's) career
— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) April 8, 2014
There's nice. Other United training updates, fresh-plucked from the digital grapevine: Ryan Giggs, who was withdrawn at half-time of the first leg last week and did not appear at the weekend, is also training. Marouane Fellaini is not, to the disappointment of many a neutral. Nor, more upsettingly, is Rafael, which suggests that United will once again be improvising in defence. Phil Jones to right-back it is, then. Gulp.