Rooney: United have met targets
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Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United have met their main target for the season by securing a top-four place, and has set his sights on silverware next campaign.
United will end Louis van Gaal's first season in charge trophy-less but have at least secured a return to the UEFA Champions League, having missed out on Europe altogether this campaign after a seventh-placed finish last term. And Rooney, who was enjoying his first season as club captain, believes that makes it a successful campaign.
"The main aim was to get back into the Champions League," Rooney said on the club's website. "It was very important because one year [out of the competition] was far too much for this club. So that was our main objective, to bring Champions League football back, and we've done that.
"We're establishing a very good squad who I believe can go on and win silverware next year."
Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney
"Now we want to go and win the last game of the season and then next season we really want to push for silverware. We're establishing a very good squad who I believe can go on and win silverware next year."
Rooney believes United's slow start was a symptom of adapting to Van Gaal's 'tough' regime, but said the benefits were clear by the end of the season.
"The manager has come in and been excellent," he said. "It's a different way of working to what we're used to and I think the players have embraced that. In the first few months it was different, we found it tough, I think that probably showed in our performances.
"But since then I think everyone has seen the quality of football that we've been playing and I'm sure with the experience the manager has got we'll all kick on, we'll learn a lot and it will benefit us."