Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal reveals how Wayne Rooney reacted to being benched

LOUIS VAN GAAL insists Wayne Rooney reacted professionally to being benched yesterday.

 

Wayne Rooney was dropped to the bench on for United's match against Stoke

 

United suffered their fourth straight loss as Stoke recorded a 2-0 victory at the Britannia Stadium.

The Dutch boss chose to start Ander Herrera ahead of Rooney, before bringing the forward on at half-time in place of Memphis Depay.

It was the first time the club captain had started a Premier League game on the bench in almost two years - a decision that Dwight Yorke criticised Van Gaal for.

 

Rooney failed to inspire United after coming on at half-time

 

But the Dutchman insisted the England striker respected his choice.

"Like a very good professional," Van Gaal said when asked how Rooney reacted to being dropped.

"And I think that also is Wayne, that I have already told a lot of press conferences that he has a big contribution not only on the pitch but also off the pitch.

 

"It is always a difficult decision to put your captain out of the team.

"But we are always making a gameplan and then we are comparing players with each other and that we are doing every week.

"And then we have decided to put him on the bench."