Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal defended his captain Wayne Rooney after his red card in victory over West Ham United.

Rooney received the sixth red card of his career for lashing out at Stewart Downing with a lunge that was almost waist-height and left his United colleagues to defend for a 2-1 win over West Ham with 10 men for more than half an hour.

Asked why he saw it as a professional foul when Downing was deep in West Ham's half, and if he shouldn't have made Rooney captain, the Dutchman snapped: "For me, that is neither a good analysis by you and neither a good question."

Asked then if he intended to answer the question, he said: "It is my right not to [answer]."