Wayne Rooney says Manchester United's players should take the blame for their less than attractive style of play rather than under-fire manager Louis van Gaal.
The United manager was booed following the 1-0 defeat by Southampton in the Premier League but Rooney, Daley Blind and Juan Mata eased the pressure with the goals in the 3-1 win over Derby County in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday.
After the game Rooney said the players had to take their fair share of the blame for a season which so far has them in danger of missing out on qualification for the Champions League.
“It’s unfair to say it’s down to the manager – we’re on the pitch. So the players have to take a lot of responsibility for performances and results,” Rooney told several national newspapers.
“We have to stand up and take criticism when it’s there. We want to win, of course we always want to win, and we’re trying.
Read more: Richard Jolly on how Louis van Gaal has reached point of no return with Manchester United fans
“Even when you’re giving 100 per cent, it doesn’t always come off and thankfully it did in our last match.”
Following the FA Cup win, where his opening goal at the iPro Stadium had been cancelled out by George Thorne, Rooney added: “It was obviously a better performance than last week’s game but the manager gave us a lot of freedom to go and play – and I think you can see the difference in the team. You can see we were enjoying it, scoring some good goals and thoroughly deserved to win.
“So hopefully we can put in another performance like this again on Tuesday and take it into the game against Stoke.”
The United captain has also set his sights on breaking a second of Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring records this season.
Rooney became England’s all-time leading scorer in September when he tucked away a penalty in a 2-0 win against Switzerland at Wembley – his 50th goal for his country.
And he has begun 2016 with a bang, scoring six goals in United’s six matches so far this year.
The 30-year-old’s strike in the fourth round tie was his 243rd goal for United and moved him to within six of another of Charlton’s long-standing records.
Charlton’s figure of 249 has stood since 1973 and Rooney said: “Of course I’m aware of it.
“Like the England record, when I was getting closer, it kept getting mentioned every week so that will probably start again with every goal.
“But it’s great to be mentioned again alongside Bobby’s record and hopefully before the end of the season I can go past that and then kick on again.”
The same Southampton side who took the wind out of United's sails can now look to deflate Arsenal on Tuesday as well. But Arsene Wenger will be confident with a healthy Alexis Sanchez returned to the fold.
“He came through this and you could see physically he is ready,” Wenger said after Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Burnley on Saturday.
Arsenal are looking to recharge their title run a slump that has seen them collect just two points from their last three matches. Crucial to that effort will be the instrumental Sanchez.
“He had a long rest now,” Wenger said of the Chile international’s long injury lay-off. “It is true that when he got injured, you could see signs of fatigue. Two months’ rest is a good winter break.”
Elsewhere, third-placed Manchester City will hope the tricky fixtures for Arsenal and leaders Leicester City (against Liverpool) are fortuitous, as they are handed the relatively easy task of second-from-bottom Sunderland. Similarly, fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur hope to capitalise with a trip to Norwich City, two points above the relegation zone.
If Manchester United falter again, West Ham United have a prime opportunity to leapfrog into fifth with a meeting against bottom side Aston Villa.
Fixtures (UAE times)
Tuesday
Norwich City v Tottenham Hotspur (11.45pm); Arsenal v Southampton (11.45pm); West Ham United v Aston Villa (11.45pm); Sunderland v Manchester City (11.45pm); Leicester City v Liverpool (11.45pm); Manchester United v Stoke City (midnight); Crystal Palace v Bournemouth (midnight); West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City (midnight)
Wednesday
Watford v Chelsea (11.45pm); Everton v Newcastle United (11.45pm)
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