Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United are on verge of greatness

Wayne Rooney believes the present Manchester United squad can be ranked as one of the best in football history.

With back-to-back Premier League titles to their name, the reigning European champions have a chance at further glory when they compete for the world club title in Japan next month.

United were the only English club to win the tournament, now expanded to feature continental champions from around the world, when it was known as the Intercontinental Cup, in 1999.

England striker Rooney reckons a fresh triumph in Yokohama on December 21 would further enhance the reputation of the present United team.

“I hope we can be regarded as one of the best ever,” Rooney said Thursday. “There is definitely a lot of quality here.

“Over the last couple of seasons we have played some tremendous football and the squad itself is quite young.

“If we can keep winning trophies over the next few years I see no reason why we can't be up there.”

In the lead-up to this weekend's derby, Rooney riled Manchester City fans by saying they could not yet be considered a big club simply because they were now owned by the cash-rich Abu Dhabi United consortium.

“After the takeover of Manchester City, there has been a lot of talk about whether they are going to be the next big team,” said Rooney.

“The aim is to come back as winners and for United fans to say 'we are the best team in the world'. It would be nice for our supporters to be able to give the City fans a bit of stick.”