Rooney says he wore long studs to 'hurt' and 'injure' people and put Terry in crutches

Rooney, who won five Premier League titles and a Champions League at Manchester United, conceded the Blues were 'better' than his side at the time, so he went out with the intention of causing damage to his opponents.

And he did exactly that following a clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in April 2006.

The west London club were the kings of England at the time, having been revolutionised by Jose Mourinho who steered them to the title in his maiden campaign in England in the 2004/05 season.

And just seven minutes into the clash, Rooney left Terry down on the pitch in a heap and needing treatment after a hefty challenge.

"I always wore the old plastic studs with the metal tip and for that game I changed into big, long metal ones, the maximum length you could have because I wanted to try to hurt someone, to try to injure someone," Rooney told the Mail on Sunday.

"I did it, because John Terry left the stadium on crutches. I left a hole in his foot and then I signed my shirt to him after the game… and a few weeks later I sent it to him and asked for my stud back!

"If you look back on the pictures after the game, JT is celebrating - but he's on crutches from that tackle.

"We knew if Chelsea won then they had won the league that day, but you knew they would win because you could feel they were a better team at that time.

"It was more frustration from the time. Jose Mourinho was there, JT, Lamps [Frank Lampard] and they had a great team.

"I just knew it would get to me, that I could boil over and it was almost a protection of myself, but also a feeling that if you can't win then not let them enjoy it as much as they want to."

Terry, whose side went on to win 3-0 and claim their second consecutive title, has responded to the incident in good spirits, admitting he was able to continue despite the heavy challenge.

Responding to a quote taken from the Mail on Sunday's interview with Rooney, Terry wrote on Twitter: "@WayneRooney is this when you left your stud in my foot?"

Rooney is doing a superb job at Derby, who are currently in a financial mess and are in administration.

The Rams should be as good as relegated, but they are fighting for their lives under their manager, who has admitted he never thought he'd have to oversee a club in this situation.

Rooney said: "I love football. I always knew I wanted to stay in football. There were opportunities where I could have gone into TV and stuff like that, but I've always wanted to be on the pitch.

"I want to try to give some of my experience and knowledge back into the game. I always felt I'd be a good manager so to do it now it's obviously different to what I thought would be," he added, laughing. "I never thought I'd be managing in administration and dealing with what I'm dealing with.

"But it's all an experience. I've always been a fighter, been through difficult moments. Now I'm in a fight, it's a challenge but I truly believe that we will come out the other side.

"The club's a big club. My job is to keep the players calm, to keep all the staff at the training ground, at the stadium calm.

"We obviously need outside influences to help us but I believe the club's big enough that we will get the help and we will get through this and, actually, it'd be for the better."