Rooney bullish but United miles off the pace

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Paul Scholes, the Old Trafford legend now turned television pundit, was not alone in making unflattering comparisons between Van Gaal’s first United line-up and those of the recent past and, while injuries and lack of match fitness to key players played a part in the Dutchman’s opening day woes, Swansea’s first ever victory at this ground underlined one key fact.

Unless executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward manages to strengthen Van Gaal’s squad before the transfer window closes in two weeks, United are doomed to endure another long and frustratingly unsuccessful season.

Still, it is a measure of Van Gaal’s influence and reputation around Old Trafford that his players could emerge from such a demoralising performance and result as this with their early season optimism still intact.

“It is always a bigger story when Manchester United struggle and we saw that last season. We all understand that,” said Van Gaal’s new captain Wayne Rooney.

“Players have to understand that you are going to get ex-players going over the top and having their say. We have to accept it and be ready for it.

“We know that if this club is successful it is great, and if it is not then there are a lot of people who are waiting for you to fall so they can get at you. We have to make sure we a successful. We have to make sure last season was a one-off because that was not good enough.

“We are not out to prove people wrong. We are out to win things for ourselves, the fans and this club. It is not about proving anyone wrong.”

At least the new manager’s selection of Rooney as his club captain was one successful feature of the opening day debacle. Rooney equalised Ki Sung-yueng’s opening goal and struck the outside of the post with a free-kick as United threatened a winner before Gylfi Sigurdsson struck the game’s third goal.

Rooney won the contest for the captain’s armband ahead of Van Gaal’s countryman Robin van Persie and, one week in at least, sounds like he is cut out for the role.

“I didn’t play well. You have those days,” he said. “But being captain is always a responsibility I have had in me, especially on the pitch.

“It will be a little bit different now off the pitch with new responsibilities. But I have always felt I am a leader on the pitch so it won’t be a major difference on the pitch to what I normally do, and that is to help us win games.

“I have always been vocal either on the pitch or in the dressing room. There have been times both for England and United when I have been told to be quiet. It has always been a part of my game and I think it is important that players speak to each other. You have to communicate. That is the only way you are going to help each other.

“The time is right for me to be captain and I’m ready for the responsibility. Time will tell whether I can be a successful captain but I will be giving everything I can to help this club win trophies.”

Winning trophies seems a distant goal unless Woodward hands Van Gaal new personnel, especially in the defensive department, where the manager fielded a back three with an average age of 22, including debutant Tyler Blackett. There was also a debut for midfielder Jesse Lingard, pressed into action as a right wing-back, while injury to new left-back Luke Shaw meant that winger Ashley Young started the game as left wing-back and played the second half as an orthodox left-back after Van Gaal switched to a flat back four.

For the self-styled world’s biggest football club to be cobbling together a line-up in the fashion of a Sunday pub team is tantamount to gross negligence.

Indeed, the only factor United seem to have in their favour at present is Van Gaal. When United’s fortunes dipped last season, Moyes was patently unable to lift the dressing room which, instead, turned inwards and eventually rebelled. As vice-captain Darren Fletcher pointed out, there is no danger of history repeating itself.

“He has given the players great confidence and shown belief in a lot of the players,” said Fletcher. “You saw some of them starting today, the likes of Tyler and Jesse, young lads who he has given a great platform to go and perform on and express themselves.

“He believes they can do it, which is fantastic, because that’s what Manchester United has been about since the Busby Babes were around. He believes in the players and has given everyone an opportunity to stake their claim and ultimately it’s up to us to take those chances and prove our worth.

“People have been waiting for an opportunity to have a go at United for years and this is the perfect time. But it’s a long season and let’s see if they’re saying that towards the end, that’s all I can say.”

MANCHESTER UNITED (3-4-1-2): De Gea 6; Jones 6, Smalling 5, Blackett 5; Lingard 6 (Januzaj 22, 5), Fletcher 6, Herrera 6 (Fellaini 66, 6), Young 7; Mata 8; Hernandez 5 (Nani 46, 6), Rooney 7. Subs (not used) Kagawa, Keane, Amos, James.

SWANSEA (4-3-3): Fabianski 6; Rangel 6, Amat 7, Williams 9, Taylor 6 (Tiendalli 53, 6); Ki 8, Shelvey 7, Sigurdsson 8; Dyer 7 (Montero 66, 6), Bony 7 (Gomis 76, 6), Routledge 7. Subs (not used) Tremmel, Bartley, Richards, Sheehan.