Manchester United 2 Swansea 1 reaction: Louis van Gaal pays tribute to Wayne Rooney wonder strike

‘You cannot imagine what a goal that is. Fantastic’

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (Getty Images)

Louis van Gaal last night thanked Wayne Rooney for easing the pressure on him with his first league goal since October.

His beautiful back-flick gave Manchester United a narrow 2-1 victory over Swansea that halted a run of eight games without a win which had brought the manager to the brink of dismissal. Anthony Martial, who scored the first and made the second, was outstanding.

The goal was Rooney’s 238th for Manchester United – one ahead of Denis Law and 11 behind the club record held by Sir Bobby Charlton. “Wayne has created the gap for Martial’s goal and scored a fantastic one of his own with his left foot behind his right,” said Van Gaal. “You cannot imagine what a goal that is.

“He told me had gone past Denis Law and he is only 30, although they play many more matches now. You cannot predict what impact that will have, only that it will raise the confidence and lower the pressure on Manchester United. There is a lot of pressure on us to do it in 90 minutes, especially when the opponent plays in a way that makes it difficult to score with 10 players behind the middle line.”

Following an encouraging goalless draw against Chelsea last Monday, United’s first victory at Old Trafford since 7 November meant the immediate pressure on Van Gaal has lifted.

Against Swansea he employed three central defenders, the defensive formation with which he took Holland to the semi-finals of the World Cup. “What we showed is that we can perform the game plan in a risky style under this kind of pressure and this is a very positive signal,” Van Gaal said. “Against Chelsea we played in a very risky way and we did the same here.

“I am proud they could do it under this pressure and now the situation is different for us and I have a good hope this can be a starting point for better things.”