"This is more or less a new team so for ourselves, as a team, we need to win something. The fans want to see us win something again.
"Obviously the Champions League is massive for this club and it was disappointing to go out of it.
"We'll keep going in the league, keep trying. But our main aim has to be to make sure we can get in that top four.
"And then the Europa League, it would be great if we can win that. It's not where we wanted to be at the start of the season.
"But it's where we've found ourselves so why not go and try to win it."
A success in one of the two cup competitions would ease the criticism surrounding van Gaal and the pressure on the Dutch manager as he enters what appears certain to be a pivotal period for him and the club although Rooney has remained supportive of the beleaguered manager.
"It's a very good group of players,” added Rooney. “At times it's been frustrating for us as we've under performed.
"And actually the manager has taken a lot of stick for some performances. It's down to us, we're players and we have to perform.
"At times this season we haven't done that. In terms of that we've probably been quite lightly and the manager has taken a lot of it.
"But we're going on the pitch. We have to create chances and win games and we haven't done that enough this season."
- Telegraph