Millwall’s Alex Pearce: I know what Derby’s Wayne Rooney is going through – the emotions are doubled when you’re in charge of a team

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Alex Pearce is backing Wayne Rooney to be a success as a manager – with the pair both having a taste of what the jobs entails.

The Millwall centre-back stepped in to fill the touchline void when Gary Rowett, Joe Carnall and Adam Barrett were forced to self-isolate – the first two due to returning positive Covid-19 tests.

Pearce and Shaun Williams were placed in caretaker charge in late October. They had a dream start with a 2-0 win at Preston North End followed by a 3-0 Den reverse at the hands of Huddersfield.

England and Manchester United legend Rooney has been handed the Derby job on an interim basis after they recently parted company with Phillip Cocu.

Former Rams defender Pearce is now back just in a playing capacity but reckons emotions were heightened when he was just on the sidelines – even though boss Gary Rowett was still the one calling all the shots.

“It was a real eye-opener in terms of being on the other side of the conversation – what goes into picking a team and what goes into the training sessions,” said the 32-year-old. “The gaffer was still picking the side and picking what training sessions we did but it was still so interesting. I loved it.

“Hopefully it will stand me and Willo in good stead. For me the win over Preston was a high that I’ve never felt as a player – it was twice as good as any result I’ve had. But then again the loss on the Saturday was probably twice as bad as I’ve ever felt.

“I’d say that’s because you’re involved so much more. When you’re playing all you focus on is yourself and making sure you’re ready. You’re getting your body right and making sure everything is in order. When you’re taking the team you’re thinking about everybody else and probably don’t think about yourself at all.

“We weren’t doing it all but you still feel a kind of responsibility. Me and Willo are players and we were happy to see the manager come back.”

Rooney, 35, cut short his spell with DC United in the MLS to return to England as player-coach at Derby last season.

The Scouser has admitted it is “possible” he has played his last competitive match.

Pearce has completed his UEFA B coaching licence and is in the process of doing the A version.

“He’s had an absolutely fantastic career – on paper his career speaks for itself,” said the Millwall man. “I know he came out recently and made it clear he wants to go down the managerial route. I’m sure he’ll be great at that as well.

“He’ll probably realise it is a completely different ballgame and I can imagine what he is going through because myself and Willo were privvy to those conversations.

“I probably see myself going down the coaching route, possibly management. But I’d like to think I’ve got a lot more games in me.

“I want to play for as long as possible.

“It will be interesting to see how he [Rooney] gets on. It sounds like he could have the job for the forseeable future, probably the rest of this season. Hopefully we can do a job on them on Saturday.”

The Rams are bottom of the Championship table. Rooney looked set for his first victory as Colin Kazim-Richards put them into an 83rd lead against Coventry on Tuesday, only for Gustavo Hamer to snatch a late leveller at Pride Park.

County have the financial backing and following that normally makes them promotion contenders.

“They are in a false position with the players they have got,” said Pearce, who played 58 times for the Derbyshire outfit. “They have got some talented players and I think they’ll be disappointed how they have performed as a group.

“I’m sure they’d say that if you asked them, because it is a big club with a brilliant fanbase and fantastic training ground.

“They’ll be looking to get themselves off the bottom of the table very soon but we’ll be looking to keep them down there and put pressure on them.

“We’re at home and hopefully we can stamp our game on them and get the three points.”

Pearce had a six-game spell without playing before Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Birmingham City.

He did not make himself available for the two fixtures where he and Williams took the team and then was an unused substitute for the next four outings.

The club captain, who has racked up 53 appearances since signing from Derby in January 2019, said: “You have to remain disciplined and professional at all times.

“We haven’t got the biggest squad and it is vitally important everyone stays ready when they are not playing because it sure as damn won’t be long before you are.

“You have to be ready so that you can step in and do a good job for the team.

“Everyone wants to play every game but that’s not always the case – the manager can only pick 11 players to start.”

Pearce has continued to do his enthusiastic clapping when he leads Millwall out for the warm-ups even though there has not been a crowd at any of their matches since early March.

But 2,000 Lions fans will be there tomorrow as restrictions are eased.

“I’ve kept it going because the fans were with us in spirit,” said Pearce.

“It will definitely be nice to have them there – even if it is only 2,000 it will make a big difference. It will be nice to hear them getting behind us.”