Wayne Rooney insists Manchester United have shown their critics there is life after Cristiano Ronaldo.

United go into the weekend as Premier League leaders and with two wins from two tough Champions League games.

Rooney believes the squad have responded to Ronaldo's departure by playing more as a team, yet have been getting some unfair stick.

Rooney is currently the club's leading scorer with six league goals, but against Wolfsburg the win came courtesy of two midfielders, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick, while the goals have generally been shared around the team more widely than in previous seasons.

The England striker said: "Personally I think we came in for some unfair criticism at the start of the season because, although we weren't playing as well as we can do, we were still winning games.

"Yes we lost to Burnley but we have won every game since and yet this week we still got criticised.

"Of course that's always going to happen with a club of this size but we bounced back really well, went top of the league last weekend and are looking to carry on from there."

Rooney conceded that Ronaldo was a dominant figure for United but believes the team's whole style has now changed.

He added: "I think we are playing different football. Obviously last season the team was based a lot around Cristiano but this year there's a few more players chipping in with goals, which is great to see."

Ronaldo scored twice for Real against Marseille to make it nine goals since his summer move, something which will please Sir Alex Ferguson who has backed him to finish as leading scorer in Spain.

"I wouldn't disagree with him," smiled Rooney. "It's no surprise to see how well he is doing at Real Madrid, he's rightfully the best player in the world and I'm sure he'll continue to do well."

Rooney started the game in partnership with Michael Owen, but that was shortlived as the former Liverpool and Newcastle striker departed with a groin strain after less than 20 minutes. Dimitar Berbatov, who came on in his place, immediately impressed.

"I'm sure Michael will be disappointed but he didn't want to take any risks and it was probably the right thing for him to do to come off," added Rooney, who was full of praise for Berbatov.

"He (Berbatov) is playing some good football and has had some unfair criticism. Sometimes with his body language it doesn't look as though he's working but he is, and he showed some fantastic touches and created some great opportunities for our team."

Giggs, not for the first time this season, was United's saviour after they went a goal behind to the Germans, scoring the equaliser and then setting up Carrick for the winner.

But the 35-year-old was at a loss to explain the secret of his longevity at the very top of the game.

"I don't know," he said. "You just try to look after yourself and it helps if you have good players around you, and that's what I've got."

Victory against Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday should keep United top of the table going into the international break, and Giggs believes that could be key at this point in the title race.

"We want to go into that with a win under our belt and make sure that we stay top of the league over the international break," said Giggs.

"If we put in a good performance against Sunderland that's what will happen. It's at home and it will be a tough game like every game in the Premiership but if we play like we did against Wolfsburg we should be okay."

Meanwhile, Ferguson has promised to restore Ben Foster to United's goal on Saturday despite Poland international Tomasz Kuszczak playing against Wolfsburg.

"It was a good opportunity for us to play Tomasz but Ben will play on Saturday," said Ferguson.