Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal praised captain Wayne Rooney’s work rate during the 3-1 win over Newcastle at Old Trafford yesterday saying: “He has the lung capacity to run 90 minutes as a midfielder, so that’s why I use him as a midfielder, but I can also use him as a striker. But for the team, at the moment, it is better that he plays in midfield.”
Rooney found the back of the net twice while also creating a goal to please LVG.
“When [one of your players] scores two goals and assists another, then you are very happy as a manager, but he is also happy I assume.”
The 63-year-old Dutchman also talked about his frustration of not being able to prepare the team ahead of their trip to White Hart Lane on Sunday.
“I cannot prepare my team the way I have to prepare them. Normally we have unit meetings, team meetings and 11 against 11 training sessions, assimilating opponents but we cannot do that now and we have to play within 48 hours.
“With FIFA and UEFA’s rules it’s forbidden to play within 48 hours. In England, it’s okay.”
