Saturday 1 November 2014 11:43, UK
Louis van Gaal has confirmed Wayne Rooney will play in Sunday's Manchester derby but denied his captain has been carrying an injury.
"Rooney was not injured, maybe his shoe was too tight, that's possible, but he was not injured," joked the Manchester United manager at a press conference on Friday.
He blamed the press for stoking up a rumour that the skipper was injured after reports Rooney had limped out of training on Monday.
Rooney returns after a three-match suspension for the clash at the Etihad Stadium against Manuel Pellegrini's champions.
Rooney was not injured - maybe his shoe was too tight, that's possible, but he was not injured.
"He shall play - he's my captain," said the Dutchman.
"I have heard it also that he has scored a lot of goals against Manchester City - the most of all the clubs - so I said that to him, to stimulate him, but he doesn't need that. I'm very happy that he can play again."
No-one has scored more Manchester derby goals than Rooney, having scored 11 on 22 appearances, with seven coming at the home of United's city rivals.
Most memorable was his spectacular overhead kick at Old Trafford in February 2011, the winner in a 2-1 victory, which was voted the best goal in the first 20 years of the Premier League.
Van Gaal also denied he was treating the Manchester derby any differently from any other of United's games this season.
He said: "This is one of the 38 games which I have to analyse. I have to prepare for these games in the same manner, it's not different for me. But for the players and the fans, this game is different, that I know."
The United boss is also convinced his side are getting stronger, while hinting his counterpart at the Etihad might have more to worry about than he has going into the match.
"We are growing, we are developing ourselves, I think," said van Gaal, "And what we have seen of Manchester City, the last matches were not so good."
