By Michael Odegbe
Wayne Rooney offered a brutally honest assessment of Manchester United’s current state, warning that the team is far from being good enough to challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
The club’s all-time leading goalscorer made no secret of his reflections on United’s recent home performances against Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, describing what he considered deeply concerning for a club of United’s stature.
On the BBC’s “Match of the Day,” Rooney said that watching United at Old Trafford felt completely out of place.
“I felt like I was watching a team that had been promoted to a higher league, going to Old Trafford for a point,” he said. “That’s how Manchester United play at home, which is very worrying.”
Rooney was particularly critical of the team’s cautious formation, questioning why United lined up with five defenders and two defensive midfielders in front of their home fans. He believes this approach is stripping the club of its identity.
“The squad isn’t good enough, and it’s been difficult to watch,” Rooney added. “Regardless of what squad you have, it’s unacceptable. The fans want to see flair, energy, and attacking football.”
The former captain admitted that some players want to play attacking football but feel the system holds them back.
“They’re playing with the handbrake on,” he said. “I just think a lot of them aren’t good enough to challenge for the top four.”
United currently sits sixth in the Premier League table with 31 points from 20 matches, clinging to hopes of European qualification rather than fighting for a real title or a top-four finish.
With another away game against Burnley looming, the pressure is mounting on the team to respond on the pitch, and prove that Rooney’s devastating verdict isn’t the harsh truth of life at Old Trafford.
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