Rooney breaks Man Utd ’s European goalscorer record

His worth has been continually questioned at both club and international level this season, but Wayne Rooney’s strike against Feyenoord secured his place as the leading European goalscorer in Manchester United’s history.

Rooney, who hit back at the media earlier this week for what he saw as unfair treatment of his form in the campaign to date, helped United to a comfortable 4-0 victory over the Dutch side in the Europa League.

In the process, his 35th minute opener took him on to 39 European goals for the Old Trafford giants and at the head of the table, one ahead of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The 31-year-old’s deft chip also put him within one of Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 as United’s highest ever goalscorer in all competitions.

Earlier this week, Rooney told the media: ‘It feels as if the media are trying to write my obituary. I have not finished yet.’

Speaking after the game on Thursday night he hit back further, telling BT Sport: ‘All that [fuss] is created by you guys and people like yourself asking questions now.

‘I think people in the media are making a big deal over nothing. I actually didn’t even step foot into the wedding and I think it’s a shame that I’m having to talk about it now after such a great victory.’

And the England captain, given the chance to start and lead United against Feyenoord proved that to be the case as he started and finished his team’s first goal in the first period.

An excellent run down the left put Rooney into space, the striker then finding himself on the end of a pass from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and lofting over Brad Jones to make it 1-0 to Jose Mourinho’s side.

Rooney supplied the second goal after 69 minutes, playing in Juan Mata with a blind reverse pass, allowing him to slot into an empty net.

Goalkeeper Brad Jones turned Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s cross into his own net before Jesse Lingard stroked home a fourth in stoppage time.

The result takes United into second place in Group A, just a point behind leaders Fenerbahce with one game to play.

They travel to Ukrainian outift Zorya Luhansk for the final group clash in two weeks on December 8.

Source : dailymail.co.uk