Manchester United 4 Bayer Leverkusen 2 - Champions League reaction

Robin van Persie reveals joy of playing alongside 200 goal Wayne Rooney

Robin van Persie has admitted he loves playing with the newest member of Manchester United's 200-club.

Wayne Rooney became the fourth player to reach the landmark figure with his brace in Tuesday's 4-2 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen.

It means he follows in the footsteps of Jack Rowley, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton, who tops United's list of goalscorers with 249.

And Van Persie, who scored his sixth of the season with an acrobatic effort after Leverkusen skipper Simon Rofles had levelled Rooney's opener, couldn't speak more highly of his strike partner.

"I love to play alongside Wayne," said the Dutchman.

"He has a bit of everything. He can go up front, he can play in behind. He can play the short game and the longer game."

Rooney spent much of the summer at the centre of a protracted transfer wrangle.

Though he seemed certain to join Chelsea at one point, United stood firm, although Rooney has still not stated his desire to remain at Old Trafford in the long-term.

"Listen, I'm concentrating on my football as I have done all summer. I've put my head down, worked hard to get myself fit for the season. I'm pleased with the way I have come back and delighted that I am scoring goals," Rooney told ITV Sport.

When Rooney was then asked whether he had asked for a move, he snapped back: "Listen, I've just told you, I am concentrating on my football which I've been doing all summer."

With Antonio Valencia also getting on the scoresheet, United produced their best performance since the opening-day Barclays Premier League triumph at Swansea.

"I was very pleased with our team performance," said Van Persie.

"I thought we played well. When we had the ball we were very confident on it and everyone did their bit."

Meanwhile, it has been reported United have written back to disgruntled supporters insisting they are happy with their business during the transfer window.

Some fans were so furious with what appeared to be a shambolic summer, when United missed out on a succession of targets and ended up with only Marouane Fellaini to bolster David Moyes' squad, they wrote to the club to express their frustrations.

But, according to the Daily Mirror, a letter, signed on behalf of United's director of communications Phil Townsend, sent in response states: "The club had two main priorities for the transfer window. The first was to keep Wayne Rooney. He is a world-class player and the manager is very keen to have Wayne as a key part of the club's drive to retain the Premier League trophy. That aim was fulfilled.

"The second priority was to add a midfield player, and the capture of Fellaini has met that need.

"Additional resources were there to add to that but it was not possible to agree with other clubs for the right players to leave.

"The club has always backed the manager in the transfer market and it will continue to do so. The club has demonstrated its belief in, and commitment to, David Moyes through the award of a six-year contract.

"Allowing him to shape the future Manchester United team is a long term project not an eight-week panic. He must be given time to assess his new squad and come to his own decisions on which players he feels will strengthen it."

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Wayne Rooney is now 'in a good place' following interest from Chelsea, says Manchester United manager David Moyes

Manchester United manager David Moyes believes striker Wayne Rooney is “in a good place” after a tumultuous summer.

Barely a month ago it appeared the England international still wanted out of Old Trafford having become disillusioned with his role in the side.

However, two goals and the influential role in the 4-2 Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen suggest the 27-year-old has turned a corner after becoming only the fourth person to score 200 times for the Red Devils.

"You'll talk about his goals but his pass for Antonio's goal as well and he could've have it 2-0 after rounding the goalkeeper and they come up the pitch and make it 1-1. I thought he played really well," said Moyes.

"I think he looks like he is moving as well as he has done. He is in a good place himself at the moment and obviously any centre-forward who is scoring goals feels good about himself."

When Moyes arrived as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor in the summer one of the first things he told Rooney was that he could write his place in the club's history.

After his performance against Leverkusen he feels he is well on the way to achieving that.

"I said he has a real chance to be one of the all-time leading goalscorers at this club and if he keeps playing like he did he will get there. He was very, very good," added the Scot.

"It was something which we made him aware of (during the speculation about his future).

"More importantly I wanted to get him back in a really good condition and mentally ready correct when he was ready to play.

"Wayne was great. I'm not a Manchester United historian but I think there are only four people to do it (score 200 goals)."

The other three are Sir Bobby Charlton (249), Denis Law (237) and Jack Rowley (211).

Rooney kicked things off with the opening goal in the first half and when Simon Rolfes scored a deflected second just after the break it took the England international just five minutes to restore United's lead, latching on to goalkeeper David de Gea's long kick to slot home at the near post.

Robin van Persie hooked home a cross from Antonio Valencia, who added the fourth before Omer Toprak scored a late consolation.

Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia felt his side struggled to hang on to the ball and make use of it when they had it.

"We lost to a better team. United were better in possession," he said.

"I think we have learned a lot from this game. Overall the possession issue was crucial and that was a big difference.

"I think we were unlucky. Perhaps we paid them too much respect and we didn't press forward as much as we could've done."