Louis van Gaal: 'I always believed in Wayne Rooney'

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has insisted that he always believed in Wayne Rooney, who silenced his critics with a hat-trick in tonight's 4-0 win at Club Brugge.

The 29-year-old striker scored three times as United thumped the Belgians 7-1 on aggregate to reach the group stages of the Champions League.

Rooney's barren spell in front of goal was among the subplots, having failed to find the net in his previous four games, but Van Gaal says that he always knew the hitman would rediscover his talismanic touch.

"I'm very happy for him," the Dutchman told BT Sport of Rooney, who unselfishly allowed Javier Hernandez to take an 80th-minute penalty, with the Mexican missing.

"He was generous to give the ball to 'Chica' (Hernandez), but it was a slip I think.

"[Rooney] has the best mentality that you can imagine and such players with that level will always come back."

Ander Herrera added a fourth on 63 minutes as United coasted into the group stages - their first participation in the tournament since the 2013-14 season.