Rooney: I Want To Win As Captain

Wayne Rooney reflects on his first season as Manchester United skipper, discusses his relationship with Louis van Gaal and outlines his aims to lift silverware while wearing the armband...

What was your initial reaction to the appointment of Louis van Gaal as manager and how you have found working with him this season?
It was exciting really, to have the chance to work under him. The record he’s got shows that he is a top manager and since he’s come in he’s been fantastic. He had faith in me and made me captain. Seeing the way he works and his different style of management, it’s clear why he’s been successful.

Were the arrival of so many new faces and injuries to key players both reasons for the team's slow start to the campaign?
The manager came in with new ideas, a new way to play, new training methods and we did find that difficult at first. The manager told us before we started that we were going to find it difficult and it just took a little time to transfer our work on the training pitch to the games. There were also a lot of new players who came in during the summer and it can be difficult for them to bed into a new league and a new team. It was always going to take a while for them to settle in. The injuries didn't help, but I still think we should have done better.

How would you assess your own performances this season?
I think my form’s been good. I’ve played in a few different positions and scored a few goals, but I could probably have scored more. Overall I’m happy with my first season as captain, glad that we’re back in the Champions League and I’m looking forward to trying to help the team be successful next season.

How much have you enjoyed the responsibility of being captain and what does it mean to you?
It was a huge honour to be given the captaincy, it was something I really wanted to do and hopefully I can be successful. There was no silverware for us this season, but it was really important that we got back in the Champions League, which we managed to do. Next season the focus will be on winning some silverware and I hope I can lead the team to doing that.

How pleased are you to have finished in the top four?
Top four was a must, really. We had to get ourselves back into the Champions League and we’ve managed to do that. Hopefully that will provide a springboard for us to go and fight for silverware next year.

What are your aims and ambitions for next season?
We haven’t discussed them yet. For now, we'll look forward to a good pre-season when I’m sure the manager will lay out what he wants from us. I think we have to try and win whatever competition that we’re in. That’s what we always try to do. It’s important that we push on and try to win whatever we're involved in.

Wayne Rooney was interviewed for the official Manchester United Season Review 2014/15 DVD, which will be released on 18 June and is available to pre-order now from United Direct.