Former England manager Steve McClaren has warned against trying to change fiery forward Wayne Rooney.
Manchester United star Rooney has been handed a two-match suspension for swearing into a TV camera after completing his hat-trick against West Ham at the weekend, and he has been criticised by the public and the media for his outburst.
But McClaren, who worked with the 25-year-old at United and with the England team, insists people must learn to “accept the rough with the smooth” when it comes to the striker.
The ex-Wolfsburg coach told talkSPORT: “Every player has his upsides and his downsides. Wayne Rooney is no exception.
“No one is more of a disciplinarian than Ferguson. He has taken Wayne Rooney over the last four, five years and developed him from a young player who was totally out of control into one who is growing and maturing into a great footballer.
“Occasionally you are going to get things where he steps over the mark.
“He is competitive, he is aggressive and he is a winner. You can't take that away from him.
“I remember once trying to do that with Roy Keane. I said 'Look, you are missing five or six games through suspension every season, calm down a little'.
“He did for six months and it was hopeless. We said 'Get back to normal, we'll miss you for five or six games'.
“We accepted hat because we know in the others he would win the games.
“It's similar with Wayne Rooney. You've got to accept the rough with the smooth.”