Manchester United news: Louis van Gaal to blame for Wayne Rooney's slump, says Andrei Kanchelskis

Former Old Trafford star says manager's reluctance to play wingers was reason behind striker's inconsistency this season

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney (Getty Images)

Louis Van Gaal and Wayne Rooney’s team-mates are to blame for the captain’s inconsistent form this season, according to Andrei Kanchelskis.

Rooney has scored seven goals in his last seven games, but prior to that run had endured a miserable spell during which he failed to score in the league for more than two months.

While the United captain came in for criticism, United’s midfield was also identified as being too ponderous on the ball to create chances.

And Kanchelskis, who made almost 150 appearances for United during the early 1990s, believes it was Van Gaal’s reluctance to play wingers that was partly to blame for Rooney’s slump in form.

Kanchelskis, speaking exclusively to 888Sport.com, said: “The reason Wayne Rooney has scored so many goals for Manchester United and at international level is because he got good service. Now he gets the ball in the middle of the pitch and it’s difficult to score the goals.

“If you get the ball out wide with wingers and play more aggressive there is more chance of scoring goals. Now it’s normal for Manchester United to keep possession, pass, pass, backpass. There is no attacking.

“This is a different system and now it is cautious. We played 4-4-2 with wingers – myself, Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo, David Beckham. There were so many good wingers. But Van Gaal doesn’t want to play with wingers.”

Read the full 888sport.com interview with Kanchelskis here, including why he thinks United are to blame for Rooney's slump.