Rooney Praises Reds Approach

Wayne Rooney praised Manchester United's professionalism in seeing off Norwich City and prioritising three league points ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Shinji Kagawa's hat-trick helped the Reds towards an eventually-emphatic 4-0 win, and having also chipped in with a goal, Wayne stated that team selection was an important factor on Saturday.

“It was a massive game for us, we wanted to extend the lead at the top of the league," Rooney told MUTV.

"I’m sure you can see by the team the manager picked, he put a lot of experienced players out and made us aware that the Norwich match was more important than the game on Tuesday. So, it was a good professional job and a well-deserved win.”

United came up against a stubborn Norwich defence in the first half, but broke the deadlock moments before the break through Kagawa’s close-range volley. Rooney thinks the opener was vital, and was full of praise for his team-mate.

“I think that [goal before half time] virtually created all the space we got in the second half, because we knew sooner or later Norwich would be back to try to have a go at us and try to get a goal back. So, to get that goal at the end of the first half was vital for us.

“He [Kagawa] was fantastic, he keeps putting himself in positions where he can maybe get a shot at goal or play someone in. If you can see him and pick him out, he’s cool with his finishes as well. He works hard and he’s a good team player, and we’re all delighted that he got the three goals.”

Rooney compounded the visitors' misery in the closing moments of the match by firing a fantastic 25-yard effort past Mark Bunn in the Norwich goal. Naturally the striker was delighted to get on the scoresheet.

“Yeah it’s always nice to score, and in injury time right at the end of the game it was great to get that goal. I think overall it was a good performance."

As well as boosting the goals-for column by four, United claimed a fourth consecutive clean sheet, a feat Wayne believes is vital going into Tuesday’s second-leg against Real.

“Early on in the season we were conceding too many goals," admitted Rooney.

"We seemed to have coped with that, we’re not conceding and we’re scoring goals so we’re in a great position at the minute. So, hopefully we can continue for Tuesday.

"Obviously it [United vs Real Madrid] is two of the biggest clubs in the world, so it will be an exciting night, we’re all looking forward to it. Three points against Norwich were vital to put us in good spirits for the game on Tuesday.”