Manchester United: Wayne Rooney team talk inspired win over Manchester City says Daley Blind

Manchester United star Daley Blind says club captain Wayne Rooney inspired the 4-2 victory over Manchester City on 12 April with a pre-match message to the dressing room that aimed to motivate the team and end the poor run with their neighbours.

Having lost the previous four Manchester derbies, Louis van Gaal's side beat Manuel Pellegrini's side to consolidate third place in the Premier League, while leaving City four points behind.

And Blind has claimed Rooney's team talk helped them to fight and overcome Sergio Aguero's opener, while securing three crucial points.

"It was a thing what was always in our minds. It was going through the team. Everyone knew how important this game was, not only because it's a rat race in the last games, but also because of the history of the last four games," Blind said, according to Standard Sport.

"Wayne Rooney mentioned that in the dressing room before the game to all the players and it is something that you have in mind when you go on to the pitch. You saw how everyone was fighting for each other.

"Maybe after the first five minutes we were a bit like 'What is happening here?' but after that we picked it up again and we did very well. And with the crowd behind us, it was amazing."

After securing six victories in a row, including in crucial games over Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and City, Chelsea host United on 18 April with the chance to reduce the gap between themselves and the leaders to five points.

Asked if the win over City sent out a message to other rivals, Blind said: "Of course, other teams are watching it, but we have to watch ourselves this season, our own games, focus on that and then we'll see where it ends.

"We don't have to watch for Chelsea or anyone else - we have to focus on our own game. We have to look at ourselves. Every game is a final to the end and we have to believe in ourselves."

Blind is confident the club can continue the good run until the end of the current season to finish with as many points as possible.

While asked if the Red Devils would be title challengers next season, he responded: "Manchester United is always a club that is fighting for the title so it's an easy answer.

"You want to do better every time you play and if you see how we've done I think we've improved a lot. We're still improving and we really are one team and that's important. We have to keep going in this way and keep in mind that every game is a final."