Rooney hails solid backline

Wayne Rooney may have helped put the Reds' in the driving seat in their Champions League quarter-final tie, but the striker was quick to heap praise on United's backline after the 2-0 victory in Rome.

Despite the loss of Nemanja Vidic through injury just after the half-hour, the defence stood firm as they recorded their 23rd clean sheet in 37 games and their fifth on the trot.

"The defence was brilliant and all season they've been the same so hopefully that will continue," Rooney told Uefa.com.

"I thought we defended well as a team. It was important to try to keep a clean sheet and then hopefully nick a goal and we did that just before half-time and it put us in a good position in the second half.

"We knew Roma would come out and attack us and it created a bit of space for us. We had the two counterattacks and made them count."

Cristiano Ronaldo put the visitors in front on 39 minutes, before Rooney fired his third goal in two games six minutes after the hour-mark.

The result leaves United in pole position to qualify for the semi-finals, but Rooney insists they won't be taking anything for granted in next Wednesday's second leg at Old Trafford.

"It was a good professional job to come here and play well and it gives us a good platform for next week," he insisited.

"But with the Champions League you never know what can happen so we'll have to go out focused and with a good attitude. If we do that hopefully we'll see the second leg through.