Manchester United pressure eased by Swansea win, Rooney goal – LVG

“The influence of Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney is very important for us”. The aforementioned Martial added an assist to his goal on Saturday, by providing Rooney with a fantastic ball that he managed to get on the end of. The England captain flicked in a deft finish for his first United goal in two months, which put him second outright in the all-time scoring lists at United (238) and in the league (188). In the second half we created less chances but we scored.

“December was a poor month but it’s a great feeling to get that win and I think we’ve shown that we’ve fought hard and we need to kick on”, the United defender told MUTV.

The slight rejuvenation, if not renaissance under Louis Van Gaal was evident in the match against Chelsea as United played like a team possessed and were extremely unlucky not to win as they were denied by the post and Courtois Jedi-like reflexes. “After the equaliser it was not so easy but we believed in ourselves”.

ANALYSIS OF THE MATCH: “We’ve started the new year very well”.

United’s last 25 Premier League fixtures have seen them scoring just 25 goals. The players want to press.

The victory was Manchester United’s first in all competitions since back on November 21, when they beat Watford 2-1. The goal secured a first win in eight games for the Red Devils and came after Gylfi Siggurdson had levelled the scores on 70 minutes.

United’s board always intended for Giggs to succeed Van Gaal when he was appointed in 2014 and they are determined to stick to that long-term strategy. “I hope that it is the fantastic starting point for the team, but also him”.

While it’s unlikely that LVG will stick around for two decades, this Rooney goal might just have saved Van Gaal’s job. And it came at the right moment, I think.

Swansea was causing problems down United’s left, where halftime substitute Matteo Darmian was being overrun, and the goal came from that flank. That is why I am proud they can do it under this pressure.

“I have to say all the players do their utmost best and you can see that, but still there is still space for improvement”.

Manchester United’s next match comes in the FA Cup Third Round against the League One side, who are now in eighth place in their division.