Wayne Rooney has claimed that Manchester United are finally comfortable with Louis van Gaal's approach ahead of the new campaign.

A strong finish to last season clinched Champions League qualification, and with the pressure on Van Gaal's side to challenge for the title after a busy summer in the transfer market, Rooney believes that the future is promising.

"At the beginning of last season the manager told us it would take a while to adapt to the changes," he told reporters.

"As a group of players you don't think it will but towards the end of the season, from Christmas, I felt we played some great football, understood exactly what the manager wanted from us and particularly in the big games we did really well.

"We can take that as positives. It was the games we expected to win where we disappointed ourselves. We know what is expected of us and what we have to do and are positive and excited for the season."

United start the season against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on August 8.