Wayne Rooney is unhappy with the slow starts that Manchester United have been making all season, warning the trend needs to be stopped before they are made to pay for them dearly.
United have conceded in almost all of their games this season so far - beginning with Everton, Fulham, Southampton, Liverpool and Tottenham. That problem was on view yet again in the Champions League game against CFR Cluj, when the small Romanian side opened the scoring in the 15th minute.
It needed an intervention from United's two best attackers - Rooney and Robin Van Persie to give them a 2-1 victory, with the former the provider and the latter the finisher for both goals.
"Obviously it's not nice," Rooney told the club's official website. "It's something we need to make sure we stop doing.
"We can't keep affording to let teams get a headstart on us, especially in the Champions League when it's very difficult to win the game anyway.
"We have to make sure we're more solid than we have been and hopefully we can be in future games."
Rooney excelled in a deeper lying role in Wednesday's game, pulling all the strings with the forward the chief orchestrator of most United attacks. The England international admitted the game was more difficult than expected and was relieved to come away with all three points.
"It was quite tough at times but, thankfully, we've got the three points and that's the main thing," he said.
"I played a bit deeper tonight and had some good moments (with van Persie). Robin has got two goals tonight and we're delighted. I didn't know the first one was off his shoulder until he said it at half-time but as long as it goes in, it doesn't matter.
"It was a great finish for the second goal. I was right behind it. I could see it was a fantastic finish.
"It was a difficult pitch to play on, really bobbly and hard. So we had to make sure we were fully concentrated to get our touch and passing right.
"I don't mind playing in a deeper position because I get on the ball more but the main thing for us is just getting out of this group and progressing to the knockout stages.
"We're in a good position now and, if we win our next game against Braga, we'll be in a great position."
