Wayne Rooney should get more respect, claims Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he calls for club to win the Europa League

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic called for more respect to be shown to Wayne Rooney after the Manchester United captain became the club's record goalscorer in Europe.

Rooney's delightful chipped opener in the 4-0 Europa League home win over Feyenoord moved him beyond Ruud van Nistelrooy to a new highest tally of 39 United goals in continental competitions - while also taking him to 248 for the club overall, just one behind their all-time top scorer Sir Bobby Charlton.

The 31-year-old United and England skipper has been in the headlines of late following the publication of images of him, in Three Lions gear, appearing worse for wear during the recent international break, with Rooney reported to have been up until the early hours at a wedding at The Grove hotel.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes that Wayne Rooney deserves more respect as a player

Rooney broke Manchester United's European goalscoring record on Thursday night

Having subsequently issued a public apology over the 'inappropriate' pictures, Rooney then last weekend labelled the way he has been treated by the media as 'disgraceful'.

After the Feyenoord game he hit out again, suggesting 'people in the media (are) making a big deal over nothing' and claiming he 'didn't even step foot into the wedding'.

United striker Ibrahimovic, who teed up Rooney for his goal in Thursday's match, said: 'I think when you're famous like that, people are interested, they want to know everything.

'I don't know what has happened, I didn't even ask him because it's not important for me and I'm 100 per cent sure the media doesn't know what really happened.

Rooney has been at the centre of a storm following events while on England duty

'I think we should appreciate him for the player he is, what he did. I don't see many players from England who have had the same career as him.

'I feel a little bit sorry of the situation because we should show more respect for him. Everybody wants to make a little thing a big thing.'

Ibrahimovic added of Rooney: 'As a person he's fantastic. As a player, he's the perfect player.

'I'm happy for him to break the record and I will help him to go one more - then I see it as the real record.'

The captain has claimed that he did not step foot into the wedding while with England

Ibrahimovic has also called upon United to win the Europa League, adding: 'The philosophy of the club is to win trophies. As long as we are in it, we will try to win it.

‘As long as you are in every competition, it helps you to stay on your toes. It helps you stay in shape. The more competitions we are in, the better it is.

‘Every trophy is important. It is what we are working for. We are trying to win every tournament we are in. If we can win it, it would be fantastic. The Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Cup.

‘The more trophies you win the nicer it is. At the end of your career, you can look back and see how many trophies you have collected.’  

Rooney was asked after the Feyenoord game if the way it had gone was even more satisfying for him given the recent furore.

He replied: 'No. All that's created by people like yourself asking questions now, people in the media making a big deal over nothing.

'I actually didn't even step foot into the wedding and I think it's a shame that I'm having to talk about it now after such a great victory.'

Jose Mourinho wants United to win the competition they have never won - the Europa League

He added on BT Sport 2: 'It's a great feeling to score goals and to score goals for this club. I'm sure there's plenty more to come.'

Following his 35th-minute strike, Rooney set up one for Juan Mata, a Brad Jones own-goal made it 3-0, and in stoppage time substitute Jesse Lingard wrapped up a victory that leaves United second in Group A and needing only a point from their final pool game away against Zorya Luhansk to seal qualification for the last 32.

United boss Jose Mourinho said of Rooney's European record: 'It is an amazing achievement obviously and will be even better if he can help to bring to the club the only competition they have never won in their history, which is the Europa League. His performance was like the team - good, solid.'