In Sunday’s Premier League action, Manchester United host Queens Park Rangers looking for their first win of the season.
Wayne Rooney is convinced Manchester United’s new stars will bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.
Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw are all in contention to make their debuts on Sunday when QPR come to Old Trafford.
– Okwonga: Old and new on agenda at Old Trafford
– ESPN FC readers’ XI – Manchester United
Harry Redknapp’s side will also have to deal with British record transfer signing Angel di Maria and 29-million pound midfielder Ander Herrera, who has recovered from an ankle injury.
Facing such a stellar cast of stars is a daunting prospect for the Hoops, newly back in the top-flight, and Rooney hopes the sextet of new signings will cause havoc for the remainder of the campaign.
United may be without a win under Van Gaal, but their captain insists it is only a matter of time before everything clicks into place and the team becomes a formidable opponent again.
“Obviously last season we weren’t good enough, so the time was right to go and get these top players to get us back to where we belong — to winning titles again,” Rooney said. “It’s interesting times, exciting times, we have not had the best of starts, but we will come good.”
Wayne Rooney is counting on new stars Radamel Falcao and Daley Blind to give a new spark to Louis Van Gaal’s side.
Just how Van Gaal packs the six players into his team has been the source of much debate ever since the transfer window closed nearly two weeks ago. Changing the 3-5-2 system he has used all season may be one way of accommodating his new stars.
Van Gaal made it clear on the preseason tour of the United States that his long-term aim was to line United up in the 4-3-3 formation he has preferred for the majority of his successful management career.
The addition of Di Maria gives Van Gaal’s squad more width, but the Dutchman may, at some point, have to consider dropping either Juan Mata or Robin van Persie.
Rooney thinks he, Van Persie and Falcao can operate together in a front three, but the United captain will be happy to play in whatever system Van Gaal chooses.
“Falcao is a great signing,” Rooney said. “He could have gone to a number of other clubs but it’s great we have got him. He is a world-class player so it’s a great show of intent from the club and I am looking forward to working with him.
“Hopefully we will form a good partnership between him, myself and Robin. It’s down to the manager how he chooses to play.
“With myself, Falcao, Robin van Persie, Di Maria, and Mata there is a great selection of players to pick from.”
Wayne Rooney has taken on the dual role of captain with both Manchester United and England.
In his new role as captain, Rooney has taken it upon himself to make Falcao and the other new arrivals feel at home.
“I think there are certain things you have to do [as captain],” the striker said after captaining England to a 2-0 win over Switzerland on Monday. “You have to make sure players are made to feel welcome and make sure they are aware of the history of the club.
“They will know that anyway but just in terms of the players make sure everyone is together, it’s a lot easier to do that at your club because you are there every day. You spend more time together.”
Van Gaal is without nine first-team players this weekend through injury.
Falcao has only played 217 minutes for club and country since he returned from the serious knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, but he could be thrown straight into the team.
Van Gaal has been a fan of the Colombian for some time.
“He is a player I have always admired. I liked him when he played for Atletico Madrid and saw him scoring goals in finals,” the United manager told MUTV. “After that I saw him when the Dutch national team played Colombia (in a goalless friendly) and he made a wonderful impression again on me.
“I know him and I know his record which is very promising. I’m very happy that we could sign him on the last day of the transfer window.”