Wayne Rooney: Players Deserve Criticism.

Wayne Rooney feels Manchester United's players have been fortunate to maintain a strategic distance from as much feedback as chief Louis van Gaal has gotten this season.

Van Gaal's Old Trafford future was again placed solidly in the spotlight when United tumbled to a 2-1 rout against Premier League strugglers Sunderland on Saturday.

In any case, Rooney says United's chief can't be the sole substitute for that baffling execution or the conflicting presentations that have tormented their season.

"On occasion it's been baffling for us as we have failed to meet expectations," Rooney said.



"The supervisor has taken a considerable measure of stick for a few exhibitions. It's down to us, we're players and we need to perform.

"As far as that we have most likely got off daintily and the supervisor has taken a considerable measure of it.

But we are going out on the pitch. We have to create chances and win games, and we haven't done that enough this season."

United are six points adrift of the top four with 12 games remaining and, although a place in the Champions League is far from out of the question, Rooney feels the club needs to win a trophy this season.

Their Champions League disappointments mean a Europa League campaign starting against Danish side FC Midtjylland on Thursday, and United then face Shrewsbury on Monday for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

And Rooney added: "The important thing now, I feel, is to win trophies again this season. This is more or less a new team so for ourselves, as a team, we need to win something.