Wayne Rooney has eight goals in 16 Premier League matches for Manchester United this season. Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
Wayne Rooney has eight goals in 16 Premier League matches for Manchester United this season. Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
Wayne Rooney has eight goals in 16 Premier League matches for Manchester United this season. Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
Wayne Rooney has eight goals in 16 Premier League matches for Manchester United this season. Lindsey Parnaby / AFP

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney has ‘incomparable’ quality, mentality says Angel di Maria


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The most-high profile of the sextet Louis van Gaal brought to Manchester United last summer – Radamel Falcao – says he now feels settled at Manchester following a mixed start to life at Old Trafford.

Falcao’s arrival was greeted with great fanfare on deadline day, but he has only scored three goals for the club.

After starting United’s last five games, the 28-year-old is beginning to feel more at home at the club.

“I’m good,” the striker told the Manchester United official website.

“My family are comfortable. We’re enjoying life in Manchester and here at the club. The people have been great with me, with my family. We’re happy and very grateful.”

Despite spending over £150 million (Dh833m) last summer, it is one of the club’s longest-serving players that has caught the eye of record signing Angel di Maria.

“Wayne Rooney is an impressive player,” the United midfielder told Radio America.

“He plays 90 minutes in every game. He is always committed, giving everything in every match.

“He has this quality, mentality and this hunger to play every game that is incomparable.”

Rooney's form has been key to the unbeaten 10-match run which has propelled United up to third in the Premier League table.

Such a streak seemed unlikely at the start of the season when Van Gaal struggled to get the best out of his stellar squad.

In an interview with MUTV, Van Gaal admitted he felt he had let the club’s supporters down at the start of the campaign.

“After 11 matches we had 13 points and when I walked into the stadium, I thought the fans shall not be pleased, but they rose up clapping their hands,” the Dutchman said

“And that was despite the few points we had so I felt myself not so happy because I was responsible and guilty for the results.”

Van Gaal received a boost on Wednesday after it emerged Rafael will return to training this week despite fracturing his cheekbone against Yeovil Town in the FA Cup.

“Operation was perfect back training normal with mask on Friday very happy,” the right-back wrote on Instagram.

It remains to be seen whether Rafael will be risked for United’s game against Southampton on Sunday.

Ashley Young is out for several weeks because of a hamstring injury while Luke Shaw (ankle) and Antonio Valencia (groin) are doubts for the game at Old Trafford.

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UAE v Zimbabwe A

Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs

Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai

Key developments

All times UTC 4

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La Mer lowdown

La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
 

Final scores

18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)

- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)

-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)

-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)

-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)

-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)