He has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons away from the game, while his form in the Premier League has suffered - just as it did with England at the World Cup.
And in a full-length interview, in which he gives a rare insight into events in South Africa, he concedes he is far from his best.
"It's obviously been a hard time but I just need to try to get back to doing what I do best, and playing football the way I can do," he said.
"I'm only a human being, I hurt as well, but I need to get through this and get back to playing football the way I know I can do and I'm sure everything else will settle down after that."
Rooney is yet to score from open play for United this season - his only goal came from the penalty spot against West Ham - and is currently sidelined with an ankle injury.
He says he will be fit for England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro on October 12, when he will get another chance to erase his South African nightmare.
The 24-year-old was well below-par as Fabio Capello's side flopped and was forced to apologise after launching a live tirade at supporters after the goalless draw with Algeria.
And for the first time, he admits he was well below his best but insists it was nothing to do with his fitness.
"I was in the right state of mind," he said. "There was nothing physically wrong with me, I just can't see why I didn't perform and it still puzzles me to this day, and it's always, to me, going to be a mystery why I didn't perform - not even to half the performance levels I know I can do.
"It was a poor World Cup. I know by my own standards I didn't reach the form I would have liked to in the World Cup. It's frustrating and disappointing really.
"I'm quite lucky I've got time on my side to try and put it right in future World Cups. For some players it was their last World Cup so it's disappointing for the team really. I'm personally disappointed with my own performance as well.
"You try and forget it and move on. But obviously you know it's difficult. You're going to the biggest tournaments in the world and you want to try and express yourself, do well for the team, and we didn't do that.
"I didn't do that, so it's hard to take, and we just need to try and do well in the Qualifiers, and try to put it right in the Euros. But until that happens, it's always going to be there in your mind."
In a full-length interview with Geoff Shreeves to promote EA Sports FIFA XI, Rooney also talks about:
How he struggled with the World Cup ball
How he needs to get his aggressive streak back
How he is just as happy playing in a deeper role for England
And how he once made the mistake of playing FIFA XI online... signed in as himself!
Click on the video for more!
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