Phil Bardsley admitted he panicked after rendering Wayne Rooney unconscious during a kitchen sparring session in 2015. The former Manchester United team-mates fought in Rooney's home, with footage at the time showing the striker dropping after receiving a punch and narrowly missing a chair as he fell.
Speaking on Call Yourself a Fan with Alex Brooker, Sean Dyche and Jimmy Bullard, Bardsley explained the events of that Sunday. After visiting The Bubble Room bar in Alderley Edge to watch matches and drinking several pints, the pair returned to Rooney's house to watch his wedding video.
Describing how the fight started, Bardsley said Rooney appeared from the kitchen carrying two pairs of pink boxing gloves. Bardsley accepted a pair, noting it was not a wise idea after consuming ten to fifteen pints.
Reflecting on the knockout, Bardsley stated he panicked because Rooney was unconscious and the location lacked phone signal. Rooney eventually regained consciousness with a cut lip and a broken nose.
The incident occurred the day after Manchester United lost 2-1 to Swansea under Louis van Gaal. Rooney subsequently scored two goals in a 2-0 victory against Sunderland, while video of the knockout surfaced hours before United played Tottenham Hotspur. Rooney celebrated a goal in the 3-0 win over Spurs by mimicking the knockout.
