Wayne Rooney still in disbelieve about Man City’s 2012 title that hasn’t ‘been looked into’
Wayne Rooney has once again stirred the pot over one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history—Manchester City’s dramatic 2012 title-winning comeback. Thirteen years have passed since Sergio Aguero etched his name into football folklore with a 94th-minute winner against Queens Park Rangers, clinching City’s first top-flight title in 44 years and shattering Manchester United’s hopes of lifting yet another Premier League crown.
Despite the passage of time, Rooney has made it clear he still harbors frustration over how events unfolded that day—and more importantly, how QPR’s actions in the final minutes of the match have never been scrutinized. The former Manchester United captain, who was left stunned along with his teammates after thinking they had done enough with a 1-0 victory at Sunderland, continues to question the integrity of City’s win at the Etihad.
Speaking recently on The Overlap, presented by Sky Bet, Rooney revisited the dramatic finale and doubled down on his belief that the match deserved more investigation, particularly pointing to QPR’s approach after Edin Džeko’s equaliser. “Didn’t Paddy Kenny turn the ball in for two goals?” Rooney said, clearly still puzzled by the QPR goalkeeper’s performance. “QPR knew they were safe. City get to 2-2, then they just boot the ball straight back to them.”
Rooney’s suspicions stem from how QPR seemed to abandon any attempt to maintain possession or delay the game after City levelled the score. Instead, they restarted play quickly and gave City the ball back with minimal resistance—leading to Aguero’s unforgettable title-winning goal. Rooney believes that moment should have raised eyebrows, especially given the stakes and the strange demeanor of certain QPR players in the aftermath.
This isn’t the first time the United legend has expressed his discomfort with how that game ended. In an interview with The Sun marking the 10-year anniversary of the 2012 finale, Rooney reiterated his doubts. “Paddy Kenny should have done better for a couple of the goals,” he said. “City get the second goal and QPR kick it straight back to them—and that’s never been questioned. I find that strange.”
He also referenced then-QPR striker Djibril Cissé, who was seen celebrating with City players after the final whistle, as another bizarre detail that has stayed with him. “Cissé was celebrating after the game with the City lads,” Rooney added. “If you’re not involved as a Manchester United player, that’s probably one of the greatest moments in Premier League history. But for us, it was devastating—and looking back, I still think it deserved more questions.”
In response to Rooney’s comments, Paddy Kenny, the man between the sticks for QPR that day, took to social media with a tongue-in-cheek reaction. He posted an image of Aguero’s legendary goal with the caption: “Wasn’t even bothered about diving to be fair,” accompanied by a laughing emoji and two fishing rod emojis—suggesting Rooney was simply trying to stir controversy or perhaps “fishing” for drama.
While Manchester City fans continue to celebrate that day as one of the greatest in football history, Rooney’s latest remarks highlight how, for others—especially those in red—it remains a deeply painful memory. And more than a decade later, the emotions and suspicions surrounding that unforgettable day at the Etihad still haven’t faded.
