Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney takes part in a training session in Manchester, north west England.

DPA/London

For Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, less is more.
That might seem strange considering that United have not scored in their past three matches.
It’s a drought that has United fans concerned, with most of the ire aimed towards striker Wayne Rooney.
Rooney is England’s highest ever goalscorer and has scored just under a goal every two games in his 12 seasons with United. But with just two goals for his club this season, Van Gaal is being urged to move the 30-year-old out of a central position - and perhaps out of the starting line-up.
The Dutchman is not a man usually swayed by public opinion and he has leant his support to Rooney lately, urging him to try to let things happen, rather than push too much.
“Players are human beings and they want to score goals but maybe they want it too much and maybe then the choices are not always good,” he said after the weekend goalless draw with Crystal Palace.
“Maybe he is doing too much, because you never know as a player how you can improve your shape or your finishing. It can also (create) a lot of doubt and I try to influence that.
“But it can be too hard and then your mental state shall be a little bit less and that has an influence on everything and that’s the most difficult thing as a manager and player to cope with.”
The form of Anthony Martial has not helped Rooney’s cause but former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes in the old adage that form is temporary, class is permanent.
“All the strikers I had, everyone relied on their confidence,” Ferguson told reporters recently.
“When they were scoring they think they can never stop, when they’re not scoring they think they’re never going get a goal, it’s a fact.  
“I think we’ll have to wait (but) it’ll happen. (Rooney) will go on a run, don’t worry about that.”
Meanwhile Midfielder Juan Mata said United have to be better as a team when it comes to creativity.
“(Against Palace), we weren’t able to create good chances,” he wrote in a blog for United’s website.
“We need to get better in that aspect of the game because I think we have the players to do that. I’m sure that the goals will come soon and, with them, the good results.”
United rank second in Group B, tied on four points with Tuesday’s opponents CSKA Moscow, two behind leaders VfL Wolfsburg. They then host bottom side PSV Eindhoven on November 25 before a final game in Wolfsburg on December 8.
“We have two consecutive games at Old Trafford and the one this Tuesday is almost a final,” Mata said.
“CSKA have the same points than us, therefore it is vital to win if we want to top our group.”