article_snippet.sent: Rio Ferdinand believes Louis van Gaal's decision to return Wayne Rooney to Louis van Gaal's favoured attacking role has led to Manchester United upturn in performance levels.
article_snippet.sent: Writing in Louis van Gaal's column in The Sun ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday, Ferdinand, now at Queens Park Rangers, revealed Louis van Gaal's belief that Wayne Rooney in attack playing as a striker is fundamental to Manchester United hitting fifth gear.
article_snippet.sent: Louis van Gaal's praised Louis van Gaal's for moving Louis van Gaal's captain further up the field after a spell in the centre of the pitch at the start of the year but admitted the return to form and fitness of Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick has also been important.
article_snippet.sent: Rio Ferdiand (right) believes that Manchester United are at Manchester United strongest with Wayne Rooney in attack .
article_snippet.sent: Wayne Rooney in attack (right) has helped inspire Manchester United to Manchester United best displays of the season by leading Manchester United attack .
article_snippet.sent: Ferdinand praised Louis van Gaal's for moving Wayne Rooney in attack further up the pitch, after playing Rooney (right) in midfield . '
article_snippet.sent: Michael Carrick returning has obviously helped but the biggest of the lot is playing Wayne Rooney up front,' Ferdinand wrote. '
article_snippet.sent: Wayne's a goalscorer.
article_snippet.sent: Michael Carrick has Manchester United's goals record in Michael Carrick sights and the side functions better when Michael Carrick is there. '
article_snippet.sent: The fact is that Manchester United need a fit Wayne Rooney up front.'
article_snippet.sent: Wayne Rooney (left) receives tactical instructions from Ryan Giggs (centre) in the Manchester United game against Liverpool .
article_snippet.sent: Ferdinand also pointed to the return of midfield player Michael Carrick (left) as a help to the Manchester United of old .
article_snippet.sent: Wayne Rooney will lead the Manchester United of old against Manchester City in the Premier League's stand-out fixture on Sunday . '
highlights_snippet.sent: Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United need Wayne Rooney in attack .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Rio Ferdinand believes Wayne Rooney in attack's form has been key to their upturn in performances .
  
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