Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing assessment of his former club, saying the team looks “lost” and “scared” on the pitch, with up to 15 players needing to leave for real change.
The Red Devils are enduring a nightmare season, sitting 14th in the Premier League, behind the likes of Brentford, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest. With just nine wins from 28 league games and early exits from both domestic cup competitions, their only hope for silverware rests on Thursday’s Europa League last-16 clash against Real Sociedad.
Rooney didn’t hold back when discussing United’s struggles on the Stick to Football podcast:
They look lost. They look scared. Scared to make mistakes.
Bruno Fernandes is the only one producing, but they need massive changes—10 to 15 players need to go.
There’s a mentality issue. No one takes responsibility. It’s too easy for them to lose.
While Rooney singled out Fernandes and teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo as two players he’d keep, he slammed the team’s attitude, saying, “Show it on the pitch! Show some character and fight!”
His brutal verdict comes after United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe admitted some players are “not good enough” and “probably overpaid.” Meanwhile, manager Ruben Amorim, who has only managed five wins in 17 Premier League games since replacing Erik ten Hag, acknowledged that both he and the players are underperforming.
With the club in crisis, will United finally turn things around, or is another painful rebuild on the horizon?
