‘FANS MUST BE PATIENT’

FA Cup fifth round at Pride Park. And the Old Trafford legend has warned United fans to be patient as the club cannot just buy their way back into contention against Liverpool and Manchester City.

United have not won the Premier League title since 2013 and trail champions-elect Liverpool by a staggering 37 points this season. United’s record goalscorer said: “It’s going to take time – another two to three years, I believe.

“The United fans need to be patient with what is going on and let these players try and prove themselves. They need to bring some players in, and need to get rid of some players. Within two or three years, they have to be challenging again.

“If you look at Liverpool and Manchester City and what they’ve done – you’re not going to buy a team to challenge them.

“Liverpool have built a team. So United have to be a bit patient and try and build a team that will be able to challenge these two.

“The important thing is for them to try and get into the

Champions League this year. I think that will help them a lot, if they can do that.” Rooney is relishing facing United again, having lost to them twice with Everton, after leaving Old Trafford in 2017 following 13 glittering years. But he insists he WILL celebrate if he scores tonight. “Yeah, of course,” he said. “My time at United, I loved every minute of it. But I’m a Derby player now and I want to win.” Asked if Rooney may one day return to Old Trafford as manager, current Reds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left) said: “Yeah, I can see that.”