‘Fantastic’ United ready to challenge

Wayne Rooney is as confident about Manchester United’s title prospects as the benched captain is about his ability to make a key contribution for years to come.

Three difficult seasons followed Sir Alex Ferguson’s outstanding reign, with Jose Mourinho brought in to give United a shot in the arm after David Moyes and Louis van Gaal’s difficult tenures.

There have been flashes of brilliance and all-too-familiar disappointment under the Portuguese so far, with a poor run of three successive defeats followed by an unbeaten streak that extended to a fifth match in Monday’s tense clash at Liverpool.

United dug in to secure a 0-0 draw that closed the gap to the Premier League summit to five points, helping reaffirm Rooney’s belief that they will be challenging for the title.

“I think we’ve got a great squad,” the United captain said.

“I said before the season we’d be challenging – we’ve still got that belief, even stronger after working with this manager and the players over the last few months.

“I think we’ve got a fantastic squad, who are ready and capable of challenging.”

Rooney believes further positive results over a testing fortnight “can be the start of something” for Mourinho’s men.

Fenerbahce await in the Europa League tomorrow before Sunday’s league trip to Chelsea, where a steely display akin to that at Anfield may be the order of the day again.

Rooney has started five of the last six matches for club and country as a substitute, but is not ready to accept it.

“I’d like to think I can play every game, but obviously it’s the manger’s decision and I respect the decision,” he said. “I’ll be ready when needed.”

Wayne Rooney: confident of a title push.

Getty Images. Riyad Mahrez fired Leicester to the brink of the Uefa Champions League knockout stages after a 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen last night. He is pictured celebrating with Marc Albrighton, centre, and Islam Slimani, right.