'I don't recognize Manchester United anymore'
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 30.09.25. | 13:27
Former striker Wayne Rooney talked about the current crisis at Old Trafford
We’ve only six rounds into the new Premier League season, and Manchester United have already dropped 11 out of a possible 18 points. They were beaten by Arsenal, crushed by Manchester City, and humiliated away at Brentford. In Ruben Amorim’s last match, five players ended up playing out of position — Mason Mount at left-back!? The man who worked wonders with Sporting (he beat Guardiola’s City 4–1 in the Champions League) has now found himself in the stormy winds of the Premier League. A defeat against Brentford was the 17th in 33 Premier League matches. The Portuguese coach still hasn’t even reached double digits in league wins with United.
And all this is being watched by people who played in the era of Sir Alex Ferguson, the ones who made United great and whom the club now celebrates as legends. It hurts them deeply — Wayne Rooney especially.
“It's just not good enough, from the managers, the coaches, from the players, it's not good enough. I don't know what's going on. I've tried my hand at management, and it didn't work out too well, so I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, a bit younger, he's still a young manager. I'm sure he has a great future. But what is going on at Man United? I don't recognise the whole football club. I honestly hope he can turn it round and he does. But if you're saying to me, 'do you believe he will?', then, after everything I've seen, honestly, I've got no faith in it” he said on ‘The Wayne Rooney Show’.
Over the weekend, Brentford laid bare all of United’s flaws — and there were plenty. Aimless, lacking character, sluggish… The bitter impression led Rooney to point out that many players don’t even deserve to wear the shirt of such a great club.
“I don't see players fighting, I don't see character, I don't see a desire to win, I don't see ability, I don't see match winners, nothing that gets me off my feet. I go to watch the team and think, 'here we go again. we're going to lose, or maybe nick a point'. This is not Man United” he admitted.
With Jim Ratcliffe’s entry into Manchester United’s management structure came belt-tightening: over 400 people were laid off in two waves, and this atmosphere of uncertainty and misery has further eaten away at the soul of the great club.
“Man United haven't won back to back games since January. I think there needs to be a clear message from the owners, whether that's the Glazers, or that's Jim Ratcliffe, there needs to be a clear message on where the club is going, because at the minute, we're all sitting here waiting for it to crumble. It's not even just results on the pitch. It's everything about the club that needs fixing - Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have walked into a real challenge. We're seeing staff members getting sacked after 20, 30 years who are very important people to that football club. The soul has gone from the club. It needs a new engine, a new lease of life. It needs something to kickstart that football club” said Rooney.
