Manchester United’s struggles this season have been brutally exposed by club legend Wayne Rooney, who has described the team as looking “lost” and “scared” on the pitch. The former United striker and all-time top scorer believes the squad is in dire need of change, insisting that up to 15 players should leave the club. His damning assessment comes as the once-mighty club finds itself languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, trailing behind teams such as Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest.
United’s current campaign has been nothing short of disastrous. With just nine wins from 28 Premier League matches, they have been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, leaving their last hope for silverware in the UEFA Europa League. They face Real Sociedad in the second leg of their last-16 tie at Old Trafford, a match that could determine whether their season is completely written off.
Despite the midseason appointment of Ruben Amorim as manager following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, United’s fortunes have barely improved. The Portuguese coach has managed just five wins in 17 league games, failing to inspire a turnaround in results. Rooney, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, did not hold back in his criticism of the team’s mentality and performance.
“They look lost. I think they look scared and just scared to make a mistake,” Rooney said, expressing frustration at the squad’s apparent lack of confidence and leadership. He acknowledged that Bruno Fernandes remains a standout performer, despite his sometimes frustrating style of play. However, he insisted that a radical overhaul of the squad is necessary.
“It needs massive changes to the squad. I think 10 to 15 players need to leave the club. Obviously, they can’t do that, but there’s a mentality there where it’s not going right. This player will pass it on to him, he’ll pass it on to him, and no one is taking responsibility.”
Rooney also took aim at the attitude of some of the players, criticizing their lack of urgency and accountability. He pointed out how quickly they move on from defeats without showing any real fight on the pitch.
“You see them coming out saying, ‘on to the next one’ and all this rubbish. Just show it on the pitch, show some character and fight on the pitch,” he said.
Rooney, who spent 13 years at Manchester United and won multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, admitted that watching the club’s decline has been painful. Despite being from Liverpool, he remains deeply connected to United, with his children currently in the club’s academy.
“It’s bad watching, it hurts. I want the club to do well. I’ve got my kids in the academy there, and watching it, it hurts.”
Rooney’s comments come just days after United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe made headlines by openly criticizing the quality of the squad. In an interview with the BBC, Ratcliffe admitted that some players were “not good enough” and suggested that others were “probably overpaid.”
When asked about Ratcliffe’s remarks, manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the underperformance within the squad but remained hopeful of turning things around.
“If we are being honest, in this moment everybody, including me and all the players, are underperforming this season. But we can always change that,” Amorim said ahead of the crucial Europa League clash against Real Sociedad.
As the season nears its conclusion, the pressure on Manchester United continues to mount. With an aging squad, inconsistent performances, and growing frustration from club legends and fans alike, major changes could be on the horizon at Old Trafford. Whether United can salvage anything from their remaining matches remains to be seen, but one thing is clear, Rooney’s words echo the growing concerns surrounding the club’s decline.
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