Van Gaal Wants Rooney To Build On Swansea Goal

Louis van Gaal hopes the floodgates will open for Wayne Rooney after he ended a two-month wait for a goal in the 2-1 win over Swansea.

The England captain netted the winner in the 77th minute, cleverly flicking in Anthony Martial's cross with his heel to put United back in front after Gylfi Sigurdsson cancelled out Martial's first-half opener.

The goal is Rooney's first at club level since November 9 and sees him become the second-highest scorer in both Premier League and Manchester United history.

"I am very happy with Wayne, I have said that all season," Van Gaal told Sky Sports. "Of course he has to score goals because he is my striker, but I am very happy that he did that today and maybe for him it's a starting point and he can continue to score."

Rooney has netted just three league goals this season as part of a United team who are the lowest scorers in the top six.

"The goals are the most important thing," added Van Gaal. "You have to create chances, which we have done all season, but you have to finish the chances.

"I have to say I enjoyed the first half more than the second, but we scored in the second and that's the big difference. When you score it's a different world.

"You have to score with the chances you create and we had big chances to score. That was the problem in the first half. In the second half we scored two beautiful goals from Martial and Rooney."

The win is United's first since November 21 and eases the pressure on Van Gaal, whose position has come under scrutiny in recent weeks.

"We played a risky system because we had three defenders on the halfway line so a lot of space behind," Van Gaal added.

"Manchester City also played Swansea and with four defenders, but then you give a lot of space in midfield away and I didn't want that and I don't think the fans want that."

Credit: Skysports.com