Wayne Rooney has revealed he told his Derby players to 'keep calm' and 'get something out of' a second half against Sheffield Wednesday that saw the Rams pull off a stunning 3-3 draw and survive in the Championship.
Several Rams players took their celebrations to the many fans outside Pride Park after the remarkable game that saw them escape relegation to League One.
Although they were unable to enter the ground, dozens of supporters came to the stadium to follow Derby's sensational season finale.
Rooney's men looked dead and buried after losing a 2-1 lead deep into the second half against Wednesday, only for a Martyn Waghorn penalty 12 minutes from time to level the match at 3-3.
With Cardiff scoring a last-minute equaliser at Derby's relegation rivals Rotherham, the season ended with Rooney's men staying in the Championship by a single point.
Of the sensational back-and-forth that took place at Pride Park, Rooney told Sky Sports after the match: : ‘It was a roller-coaster 90 minutes. Today summed up our season.
'Thankfully the season is done and we’ve done what set out to do. I’m delighted for the players, they’ve given me everything.
'I spoke to them at half-time and told them to keep calm, we had 45 minutes left and told them we can still win the game or get something out of it and to manage the game towards the end.'
Derby have had a tumultuous time both on and off the field this season, with Rooney first being part of a four-person caretaker unit at the Rams after Philip Cocu was sacked, and then retiring from his playing career to become permanent manager in January.
Rooney's first priority has been his players, who can look forward to another season in English football's second flight.
‘I’m just pleased for them, they’ve put a lot of hard work in and for the fans who’ve not been here we want to get better I can assure you of that,' he said.
At board level uncertainty has reigned over owner Mel Morris' plans to sell the club to Spanish businessman Erik Alonso, and before that the Dubai-based Bin Zayed International group.
Referencing the situation, Rooney said: ‘It’s been difficult season and we need to make sure we get everything sorted off the pitch to give best chance moving forward.
‘It’s vital and it has to start tonight, we have to have positive news and move forward as a club, we can’t have a season like that again.’
Source: m.allfootballapp.com