Rooney: I'm very grateful for faith LvG has shown in me

Following United’s 2-1 win over Valencia, ensuring that we kept an 100% record over the course of the pre-season, Louis van Gaal announced that Wayne Rooney would be United’s new captain.

“For me it’s always very important the choice of captain,” said the manager. “Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does. I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy. He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role.”

Rooney expressed his delight at being named the captain.

“It is a huge honour for me – and for my family – to be named captain of this great club,” he said. “It is a role I will perform with great pride. Team spirit has always been very high in our dressing room and I am very grateful to the manager for the faith he has shown in me. I look forward to leading the team out on Saturday at our first match of the new season.”