Man Utd seal Champions League qualification
Rooney back into form with a hat-trick as former winners seal 7-1 aggregate win over Club Brugge.
Wayne Rooney ended his long goal-drought with a hat-trick as Manchester United qualified for the Champions League with a 7-1 aggregate win over Club Brugge.
The England captain had not scored since a Premier League game against Aston Villa in April, a run of 10 matches and 878 minutes without finding the net.
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Rooney netted his first goal of the season after 20 minutes with a neat finish, running on to a clever through ball from Memphis Depay.
He doubled the lead four minutes after halftime following a flowing move and grabbed his third just before the hour in Belgium courtesy of a cute pass from Juan Mata.
Ander Herrera added a fourth goal as United, 3-1 up after the first leg, eased through to the group stage of Europe’s premier club competition 7-1 on aggregate.
“Obviously, I’m delighted to get the goals but it was a massive game for the club,” Rooney told BT Sport.
“I know my quality and what I give to the team. Thankfully, I got chances and I took them.
“As a striker you want to score. I understand because of who I am I get publicised a lot more. But we knew we had to get into the Champions League, it was vital.
“It is nice to back in there.”