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Rooney: Players behind Van Gaal
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MANCHESTER United players are right behind under-fire manager Louis van Gaal and are determined to get their season back on track, captain Wayne Rooney said.
The Dutchman, according to media reports, is facing the sack following United’s exit from the Champions League earlier this month amid a six-match winless run.
“We are fighting for the manager and trying to get results to turn this around,” Rooney told Sky Sports yesterday. “You have a lot of people talking about things they believe are happening, when in reality the people writing that stuff don’t know anything that is happening.”
Van Gaal, whose side faces Stoke City tomorrow, walked out of his pre-match news conference after five minutes on Wednesday after calling on the assembled media to apologize for their treatment of him.
Rooney joins England teammates Ashley Young and Phil Jones, along with goalkeeper David de Gea, who have spoken positively about Van Gaal.
“We regularly have meetings with the players. Myself, and the other senior players in the squad, and with the manager — we are working together and trying to come to the best solution to help us win football matches,” Rooney said.
England’s leading goalscorer conceded confidence at Old Trafford was low and that he himself was under pressure after a failing to score in his last five league games.
United has dropped to fifth in the Premier League, nine points off top spot. “I know my performances can be better, I know that. I’m working hard to improve that and try and do my best for the team,” Rooney said. “It is not nice, obviously, getting criticized every week, every game. It is tough for the players to deal with.
“We are proud people, we are proud to play for Man United and when it’s not going right then it is hard to take.”
Rumors have been rife this week that Van Gaal was about to be sacked and replaced by Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed by Chelsea last Thursday. On Wednesday, it was clear the 64-year-old was in an angry mood from the moment he took his seat in the media room at the Carrington training ground.
“Has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologize to me? That’s what I’m wondering,” he snapped after being asked about (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger’s claim Van Gaal’s treatment had been “disrespectful.”
“I think I was already sacked, I read I have been sacked. My colleague (Jose Mourinho) was here already,” he said. “What do you think happens with my wife or my kids? Or with my grandchildren? Or with the fans of Manchester United? Or my friends? What do you think?
“They have called me a lot of times and also Arsene Wenger is saying something about that.
“So you think that I want to talk with the media now? I am here only because of the Premier League rules. I have to talk with you. But I can only see when I say something that you use my words in your context. And I want to say only that I have tried to lift the confidence of my players. We are not in a good position but four weeks ago we were first in the Premier League and in four weeks’ time we can be back in that position again.”
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