Rooney's Rousing Statement Of Intent

Wayne Rooney says Manchester United will prove the doubters wrong, despite fluctuating form since the start of the season. And the Reds captain has complete faith in manager Louis van Gaal and his team-mates to make the side successful.

United surrendered a 3-1 lead against Leicester City on Sunday to lose 5-3, meaning the Reds have taken five points from the first five games this season, leaving van Gaal’s side in 12th position, eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea. But it is early days and things can change, which is exactly what Rooney has in mind.

“There seems to be a lot of people who have written us off because of Sunday’s result, but I don't see it that way,” the striker said in a message posted on Facebook. “When I look around our dressing room and see the quality we have and the manager’s unbelievable attention to detail I have no doubts this team will be successful.”

United’s summer spending attracted attacking talents Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao to give the Reds an exciting edge going forward – the challenge, as evidenced on Sunday at the King Power Stadium, is counter-balancing that with defensive solidity.

Rooney’s positivity about the future comes as he approaches the 10th anniversary of his incredible debut against Fenerbahce at Old Trafford on 28 September 2004. The 28-year-old has followed up his Champions League hat-trick heroics with 446 appearances and 218 goals to place him third among the club’s all-time leading scorers.

“There have been some great moments in those 10 years,” Rooney said in an MUTV interview about the anniversary, “winning trophies, winning Premier League titles and the Champions League – but it has gone quickly. I’m looking forward to adding more years to that and hopefully being as successful as we have been in the past.

“There are times when you don’t win things that you want to win but it’s how you react to it. That’s what we’ve always done well – we’ve reacted to the seasons where we haven’t been successful and went on to win the league or a cup after it. That’s what we have to do again now: move on from last season and try to make this season successful.

“Last year wasn’t good enough. As players, we let ourselves and the club down. We have to bounce back from that. We have to come out of that bad time and make United successful again.

“The plan is now that I have signed a new long-term deal at the club and hopefully in five years time I will be sat down doing a 15-year interview with [MUTV]. I don’t see any reason why not.”