Van Gaal – I still have faith in Wayne Rooney

However, manager Louis van Gaal delivered a return to Europe’s top table during his debut season in charge, but they must negotiate a tricky tie against the Belgian Pro League side to reach the group stages.

In Friday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa, the United skipper only touched the ball in the away penalty box once – and that was when he was trying to run down the clock in injury time.

Louis van Gaal has reaffirmed his faith in Wayne Rooney, insisting that he has full confidence in the Manchester United captain’s ability to occupy an advanced role for the club despite a disappointing start to the 2015/16 season. It will be a hard match I think and that’s why the pressure is high.

Marouane Fellaini, who is serving a domestic suspension after he was sent off against Hull on the final day of last season, is free to play.

“Because of the pressure, we need to show our quality is good“. “That says about our structure and balance, so I have confidence that we will develop ourselves to a much higher level and I expect that also from my players”.

“All the media has written for one year that I have to put him in the striker’s position, so it’s fantastic that after two games you’re doubting your own opinions, I can not understand that”.

Asked if the supply to Rooney could be improved, van Gaal became even more spiky, turning on the questioner with a sarcastic reply.

“Adnan has eight starts last season and 14 substitutions (last season) so he didn’t have any chances?”

And being well acquainted with the skills that the Belgian Player of the Year possesses, Van Gaal feels that his side will have to be well guarded against the player. With Sneiderlein and Schweinsteiger settling in this is an exciting time to be a Manchester United fan and player and I think the future looks extremely bright both in the short and long term.

United and Club Brugge have never previously met and the Belgian side have an unenviable record on English soil, having failed to win on all 11 of their previous visits.

Van Gaal prefers to play with a forward in the number 10 position, and that is why so far Adnan Januzaj and Memphis Depay have started ahead of him so far this season.

Sergio Romero should be the man in net again given David de Gea’s situation, which apparently has not changed according to van Gaal. “It’s better not to answer certain questions”.