Ander Herrera explains versatility and urges Louis van Gaal to continue to

Herrera played just over an hour of United’s comfortable 4-0 Champions League qualifying win in Brugge, getting on the score-sheet in the process.

Manchester United avoided all the big hitters in the Champions League draw and they will fancy their chances of making progress after being placed in Group B alongside PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg.

“If I didn’t have a strong character, that may have affected me, but I know my quality”, 29-year-old Rooney said.

With van Gaal apparently having more bodies from which to select, following returns from injury and a lack of pre-season training, the United manager is toying with the idea of using Ander Herrera in the “number 10” position, playing behind his solitary striker.

“I wasn’t anxious. If it went on for three, four, five games more then maybe so but it’s early days”.

“But I’ve understood because of who I am it gets publicised a lot more but it’s part of my job and I have to accept that”.

He told the club website: “One of the big reasons I joined this club was to play Champions League football“.

“When strikers aren’t scoring or going through periods they’re not scoring they’ll always get questioned, especially at the level, the type of player he is and what he’s done in his career”, Monk said. “You can create gaps and we scored so that is also good“.

Manchester United’s thumping win over Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs could be worth over £40m by the time the season finishes in May. “But if it is a team waiting for you, maybe best as a holding midfielder, but I always say the same – I will play where the manager wants me to play”.

United won 7-1 on aggregate and returned to Europe’s premier competition after a one-year absence.

Garry Monk’s side were the only team to take six points from United last season and Van Gaal is desperate to see an improvement from United in Sunday’s meeting against Swansea. “This was a glorious night for Manchester United“, he explained, “but Swansea City is the most important match now”. Of course, every goal shall give confidence to every player, also to Wayne.