Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has accused the club’s players of being selfish and refusing to take responsibility for their poor performances amid growing concerns over the situation at Old Trafford.
Rooney expressed his frustration following United’s disappointing performance against Como, admitting he was in “shock” and “disbelief” while describing the club’s current situation as the most worrying he has seen in a long time.
Rooney told the United Stand podcast, “When Martinez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart.”
“That was the start. We’ve seen it now with Bruno and you’re going to see it with more players because they don’t want to take responsibility.”
Rooney acknowledged that Fernandes’ comments could be debated, but insisted that the players must focus on their performances rather than shifting blame to others.
Rooney also showed sympathy for Carrick’s situation. He said he had watched United’s under-19 Champions League game earlier in the day and was stunned to then see two of the players involved named on the bench for the first team.
“It was mind-boggling to me that a club like Man United are having to use two players who’ve just played earlier that day in the youth team on the bench for the first team. I do feel for Carrick because I think he’s going into a gunfight with a spud gun,” Rooney said.
Even so, he urged the manager to come out fighting for himself, warning that otherwise the players would drag him down and he would be the one to lose his job.
Rooney added that many of the squad’s long-serving players need to leave, arguing the dressing room needs fresh faces, minds and ideas.
Rooney reserved his harshest words for the players, contrasting their attitude with his own relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson. He recalled that there were times the pair did not talk, but said he would still “run through a brick wall for him” on the pitch.
The comments come afterBruno Fernandes questioned Carrick’s tactics in Como, and Lisandro Martinez hit out at the board at the weekend.
“These players, they’re selfish. They care about themselves. They don’t care about their teammates, the manager, the staff or the fans. They care about themselves. And if they’re not getting what’s right for them, they’re like babies. They throw toys out the pram and try to deflect the blame onto anyone else but themselves.”
