"We weren't aggressive enough and it's cost us," says Wayne Rooney. "We have to start again on Thursday."
David de Gea's late own goal earned Sunderland a 2-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday and a vital three points in their bid for Premier League survival. Tunisian Wahbi Khazri gave the hosts the lead after three minutes when his wide free kick from 30 metres eluded everyone on its way into the far corner of the net.
Anthony Martial grabbed the equaliser six minutes before halftime, the young French striker dinking the ball in from a tight angle after Sunderland keeper Vito Mannone had saved Juan Mata's firm shot.
De Gea made fine saves to deny Dame N'Doye and Lamine Kone but the Spanish keeper failed to deal with Kone's powerful header eight minutes from time, deflecting the ball over the line to leave United six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
"We weren't aggressive enough and it's cost us," says Wayne Rooney. "We have to start again on Thursday. Before the match, Louis van Gaal does not know if he will still be managing Manchester United next season if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League. United are fifth in the Premier League, trailing fourth-placed Manchester City by six points going into Saturday's trip to relegation-threatened Sunderland. "It is not a question for me I think," the Dutchman told reporters on Friday when asked if a failure to finish in the top four would cost him his job.
"It is a question of the board of Manchester United, you have to put that question to them. I have a contract for three years and you know that," he added. Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been widely linked with the United job in media reports, but Van Gaal, who has accused journalists of inventing the story, does not mind that the club have not publicly denied the rumours. "I have said many times that not all the media, but a lot of media, is inventing stories and you don't have to answer on invented stories," he added.
With inputs from agencies
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