Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has slammed the club’s players amid growing crisis. The Red Devils suffered a 0-3 loss against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday.
United have managed only seven points in eight games and have registered a solitary win so far in the Premier League. Thus, United are in 16th place in the standings and are one place away from relegation zone.
Furthermore, Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes have given controversial statements on club’s top brass and manager respectively, which has raised doubts on players’ unity in the team.
Rooney said the United players need a “firework up their a—-” and reminder of what it means to play for the club.
“The players haven’t got a leg to stand on. What’s not fair is the performances they are giving,” Rooney said on the Stick to United podcast on Disney+.
“I looked at the fans, you could see the pain and anger in their faces when those players are walking around the football pitch. You see [Lisandro] Martinez when [Bournemouth winger] Rayan ran round him, they are not getting to the ball, it’s so frustrating.
“I could score a goal, had ability or whatever, at least I f—— ran and put myself about as a team. These players are not doing that.
“I would love to go in that dressing room and say, ‘What the f— are you all doing? What type of performances do you think this is? Do you think you deserve to wear the shirt?’ Put a f—— firework up their a—- because they are not doing anything.
“We are seeing players who are numb, look like they have got no emotion, look like they don’t care. Some of them might care, some good lads who are getting dragged down. It is so frustrating to watch.”
Rooney admitted United are million miles away from the level, which is needed to compete in the Premier League.
“It is at best a mid-table team, but if you look at all the mid-table teams, what do they get? They get players working hard, running, tackling and I keep saying it, going back to the basics. These [United] players think they are better than what they are,” he said.
United will next take on Chelsea on Saturday.
