‘We need to score more goals as a team,’ says Rooney

Matt Stead

Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United “need to score more goals as a team” after failing to score in his 13th game of the season.

United, who would have sealed qualification for the next round with a win in the Group B contest at Old Trafford, endured a frustrating night as they saw plenty of possession but failed to convert any of the chances that came their way.

Although they have only lost one of their last eight games in all competitions, Louis van Gaal’s men have scored just six times in that sequence and there has been continued criticism of their style of play.

And when asked after the PSV match if the team were ruthless enough, United captain Rooney told BT Sport: “No, we’re not. I think we need to score more goals as a team.”

Rooney has scored in just three games for United so far this season, this despite playing 15 games in the Premier and Champions League. Daniel Storey believes Van Gaal’s possession-based style is crippling the side’s creativity and pace, but Rooney feels a “lack of composure” is to blame.

“I feel we showed a lack of composure which put ourselves under pressure a lot of times,” Rooney added.

“It’s a learning curve for us, but we can’t go on saying it’s a learning curve. We have to start turning these games into victories.”

Group B now has Wolfsburg top on nine points, United second on eight and PSV – who have the head-to-head advantage over the Red Devils, having beaten them 2-1 at home – third on seven, with one round of fixtures to go.

Those games see Van Gaal’s men travel to Wolfsburg, while PSV host already-eliminated CSKA Moscow.

It means United need a win in Germany to guarantee progression, and Rooney added: “We’re disappointed we didn’t win this game.

“Going out to Germany is always tough, but we have to believe in ourselves and have the confidence in ourselves to do that.

“It’s not the way we wanted it to be before tonight’s game, but that’s the way it is and we believe we’re good enough to go out there and get the three points.”