Rooney earns United 2-1 win vs Swansea, respite for Van Gaal

POLLManchester United ended a woeful run of eight games without a win as they beat Swansea City in Saturday’s Premier League clash but with the January transfer window now open, is it time for Louis van Gaal to splash the cash?

Morgan Schneiderlin made a rare foray forward inside the first minute to get in a shot which was blocked by Federico Fernandez, but it was another 20 minutes before United had another sight of goal as Rooney fired into the side-netting.

Rooney passed Law’s landmark in the same week the Scot received a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honour List for services to football and charity.

Manchester United fought back hard and after some wonderful work from Martial on the left channel to set up his captain Wayne Rooney, who came out with a nonchalant back heel, gave the lead to the home side again.

“You have to say that of course now we are playing much more matches, but still it is an achievement. I hope it is a fantastic starting point for the team and for him”.

“It was his left foot behind his right foot”, Van Gaal said.

“All the players have done their utmost best and that is very important for the manager”, he said.

“They have showed it this season many times, but now the situation is different”.

The Manchester United midfielder told the BBC: “Today the victory was very important”.

The England worldwide has now taken to Twitter this evening to express his delight at making a winning start to 2016 while Bastian Schweinsteiger has also uploaded a “selfie” with the striker and hailed his team mates “fantastic goals”.

Van Gaal said the result will ease the pressure on United’s players, who last celebrated victory on November 21, since when the team slipped out of the Champions League, and the Premier League’s top four.

Van Gaal also reserved special praise for wingers Ashley Young and Martial, who caused persistent problems for the visitors. “We don’t give any chances away in the first half and we played with three defenders”.

Perhaps it’s in the attacking midfield area where United need freshening up most, with the likes of Juan Mata and Ander Herrera having struggled to have a significant impact on the 2015-16 campaign and, as revealed by Goal, a deal for Felipe Anderson is very much in the offing.