Rooney’s speech ‘inspired United’s win’

MANCHESTER — Louis van Gaal said a pre-match speech by Wayne Rooney proved key to Manchester United’s 3-0 victory against Tottenham after the England captain delivered his best performance of the season in response to publication of a video showing him knocked to the floor in a boxing bout in his kitchen.

With footage of Rooney being floored by Stoke full-back and former United team-mate Phil Bardsley revealed by The Sun on Sunday morning, the 29-year-old went into the game facing questions over his off-field behaviour.

Rooney, who scored United’s third goal before celebrating by pretending to be knocked to the ground, insisted he had been focused on the game when asked whether the revelations had proven to be a distraction.

United manager Van Gaal also rejected questions on the matter as “ridiculous”. But with United’s pursuit of Champions League qualification now their only remaining objective this season, Van Gaal confirmed that Rooney’s decision to hold a players’ meeting in the team hotel on Saturday evening, in which he delivered what Marouane Fellaini described as a “very important speech”, proved the captain’s leadership qualities.

“I was aware of that (meeting), but I am not in the meeting because the captain has his own privileges,” said Van Gaal. “Of course, also the players know this game was of massive importance, so I think a captain has to do something to help the players or help the manager or help the club. I was very pleased.

“We have waited a long time for such a victory, so maybe because the performance was very good against a very good team, I am more pleased.”

Rooney’s contribution, in front of the watching England manager Roy Hodgson, emphasised his importance to club and country, particularly in the attacking position to which he has been restored by Van Gaal in recent weeks.

But when asked about the incident with Bardsley, Rooney admitted his disappointment that a private matter had been made public.

“That’s the world we live in today,” Rooney said. “It was a few mates in a private house, which has somehow managed to get on the front page of a national newspaper ... It’s what friends do — they mess around in the house ... I will just deal with it.

“But you’ve seen today, I’ve done a professional job, got on with the game and gladly helped my team win 3-0.”

Van Gaal, meanwhile, refused to condemn his captain when asked whether he was concerned that United’s leading goalscorer could have been injured during the sparring with Bardsley.

“I think it is a ridiculous world where we live that I have to answer those questions,” he said. “A newspaper paid a lot for a video and I am answering questions about that? What is this world, twisted? I don’t want to answer questions about such things.”

On the pitch, Rooney’s performance and United’s victory, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, renewed belief at Old Trafford that the team can secure a top-four finish.

And with Manchester City losing at Burnley on Sunday, Van Gaal insisted the champions have now been dragged back into the Champions League “rat race”. “It is a rat race, we are now two points from second position and the next game is Liverpool.”

“But today, we played like a team, very determined. It is nice after a defeat against Arsenal that you can do that in the next game like this, a massive, important game.” THE DAILY TELEGRAPH