Wayne Rooney admits Manchester United must rediscover their killer instinct quickly if they are to avoid an embarrassing early exit from the Champions League.
United’s place in Europe’s top club competition was put in doubt following a disappointing 0-0 draw against PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Rooney, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Morgan Schneiderlin all missed good chances as United dropped to second in Group B with one match left.
“We need to score more goals as a team,” Rooney said. “I feel we showed a lack of composure which put ourselves under pressure a lot of times. It’s a learning curve for us, but we can’t keep on saying it’s a learning curve. We have to start turning these games into victories.”
Boos reverberated around Old Trafford after the final whistle and the fans’ annoyance was understandable. United knew a win would send them through with a match to spare, but instead they rarely looked like scoring and their play was slow at times during the second half.
The last time there was a goalless Champions League fixture at Old Trafford was in September 2010, when United played Rangers. United went on to reach the final that year, but matching that feat this season seems a long shot now.
The only way United can guarantee their place in the last 16 is if they beat Wolfsburg away in two weeks’ time. If United fail to defeat the Germans and PSV beat CSKA at home, United will slip into the Europa League.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t win this game,” said Rooney, who returned to the starting XI following a throat infection. “Going out to Germany is always tough, but we have to believe in ourselves and have the confidence in ourselves.
“It’s not the way we wanted it to be before tonight’s game, but that’s the way it is and we believe we’re good enough to go out there and get the three points.”
Louis van Gaal echoed the comments of his captain. “Now we have to win in Wolfsburg and that will be difficult but we have already beaten them at home and at least we are still second in the group, in a qualifying position. Our away record is better this year as you know – but we will have to play much better than this.”
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