Wayne Rooney has confessed that Manchester United had to finish in the top four for their season to be considered a success.
The Red Devils finished outside of the top four in the 2013-14 season for the first time since the inception of the Premier League to miss out on a place in the Champions League.
United overcame a tough start under new boss Louis van Gaal to finish in fourth place, six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Rooney has admitted that his side had to finish in the top four considering the size of the club and the amount of money that was invested in the squad last summer.
"Top four was a must, really," Rooney told the club's official website.
"We had to get ourselves back into the Champions League and we've managed to do that. Hopefully that will provide a springboard for us to go and fight for silverware next year."
Rooney scored 12 goals in 33 appearances for the Red Devils in the Premier League.
Simon Sinclair
