Former Manchester United captain and record goalscorer Wayne Rooney claims the team has “gotten worse” under current manager Ruben Amorim.
Rooney expressed his concerns following United’s most recent setback, a 3-0 loss to rivals Manchester City, calling the performance additional evidence that the team is failing to progress.
Amorim was appointed on November 1 of last year to succeed Erik ten Hag, who was fired after a dismal season.
However, nearly a year into his stay, the Portuguese coach has shown little evidence of improving the club’s fortunes.
However, more than ten months later, the Portuguese head coach appears to be struggling to turn the team’s fortunes around.
His team delivered another poor performance in a 3-0 derby loss to Manchester City on Sunday, with many away fans fleeing well before the final whistle.
“I want to be as supportive and positive as I can be of the manager and the players,” said the former England striker on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, which you can now listen to on BBC Sounds.
“But it is tough to sit here and say we are seeing progression, and at least we’re seeing things that will get results soon.
“We’re seeing none of that, and it is very difficult. There was an image towards the end of the game where I saw the Manchester United fans leaving.
“You could hear the fans singing Amorim’s name, but I think it is so powerful that the United fans were leaving the game.
“You know the game is over, and I think they were very disappointed in what they were seeing. It is hard to see how it continues.
“What are the patterns? What are we seeing that might improve the team moving forward?”” he said.
United finished 15th in the league with 42 points last season, their lowest position since 1989-90. They have earned the fewest points in a top-flight season since they were demoted in 1973-74.
Since Amorim’s arrival, they have spent over £250 million on new acquisitions while selling off the majority of their so-called ‘bomb squad.’
This has enabled the 40-year-old coach to transform his team into a 3-4-3 formation, from which he has pledged not to depart after having success with Sporting.
However, many of the flaws from last season appear to be repeating.
“I think after the last year when Ten Hag got sacked and Ruben came in, we’re hearing how they’re going to play, and it is going to change,” said Rooney, who scored 253 goals for United between 2004 and 2017.
“I think if the manager is honest with himself, it has gotten worse,” Rooney added.
