MANCHESTER United stars pretend to fire ROCKET LAUNCHERS in their wacky new goal celebration — inspired by a computer game they play against rival Chelsea aces.
The players shoulder their “weapons” as if in a Sony PlayStation scene.
They drop to one knee and raise open hands in line with their shoulders — just like characters in the game SOCOM US Navy Seals.
Stars of both teams compete regularly against each other by playing the game online.
A club source said last night: “They are deadly rivals at everything and computer games are no different.
“It’s combat on and off the pitch.”
The on-pitch ritual — which has baffled fans up and down the country — was first seen at Old Trafford last week, when United beat Everton 3-0.
John OÂ’Shea scored the third goal, ran over to fans, dropped to one knee and raised his hands to the rocket-firing position.
Last Saturday Rio Ferdinand ran over to United supporters at MiddlesbroughÂ’s Riverside Stadium and repeated the routine with Darren Fletcher, scorer of the winner in their 2-1 victory.
ChelseaÂ’s John Terry and Frank Lampard were among the first to take up the computer game challenge with Rio and Wayne Rooney at an England international get-together.
In the online version of the game players take over the role of a US Navy Seal — one of the most elite positions in the US military.
The aim is to lead a team of Seals and prevent the US being attacked.
A Sony spokesman said: “John Terry’s agent has been on the phone begging for the new version of the game due out early next year.
“We sorted some of the Chelsea lads out with an earlier model — and also some of the England players.”
