Wayne Rooney has suggested that Manchester United have had a better season than Tottenham after his side beat Ajax in the Europa League final to complete a treble.
United qualified for the Champions League on Wednesday night with a 2-0 win over Ajax, combining the Europa League trophy with their League Cup and Community Shield triumphs.
However, Jose Mourinho’s side finished sixth in the Premier League this term, while north London giants Spurs pushed Chelsea almost all the way before finishing in second – four places above Rooney’s side.
In quoted published by the Manchester Evening News, United and England captain Rooney implied that the Red Devils’ trophy haul makes their season a more successful one that Spurs’ second-placed finish.
“It’s great to win trophies. It’s what you play football for,” said Rooney. “It’s right to say we want to qualify for the Champions League, but you know, you want to go try and win that trophy.
“Look at Tottenham, they’ve had a fantastic season, finished second, with no trophies to show for it. We’re in the same position, in the Champions League, with two trophies.”
Spurs were knocked out of the group stages of the Champions League before Christmas, before losing to Gent in the first knockout round of the Europa League.
They lost to Liverpool in the EFL Cup, before going as far as the FA Cup semi-finals before losing to Chelsea at Wembley as Mauricio Pochettino seemingly prioritised his side’s title push.
Now, Spurs will play alongside Mourinho’s United in the Champions League next season, alongside Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City while Arsenal play their European football in the Europa League.
Rooney might not be at Old Trafford to experience United’s presence in the Champions League, though, with doubts surrounding his future with United.