Rooney Slams Manchester United, Says Club Is ‘Broken’

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing assessment of the club’s current state, declaring that its spirit, identity, and winning mentality have “disappeared.” Speaking on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds, the former captain and all-time leading goalscorer said he has no confidence in manager Ruben Amorim’s ability to turn things around.

Rooney admitted that he now attends United games expecting them to lose, a feeling he described as painful given his deep ties to the club where he spent 13 years, won five league titles, and cemented his place as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.

His comments follow United’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford on Saturday, a result that has further deepened their crisis. According to BBC Sport, the loss means United have collected just 34 points from Amorim’s 33 Premier League matches in charge and are still yet to register back-to-back wins under the Portuguese coach. The defeat also left the Red Devils languishing in 14th place, sparking growing unrest among supporters.

Despite the poor run of form, club officials are said to remain publicly supportive of Amorim. United sources told BBC Sport that the club believes in the long-term project under the former Sporting CP boss and does not intend to make a hasty managerial change.

Rooney: ‘Some Players Don’t Deserve the Shirt’

Rooney, however, believes the issues go beyond tactics or bad luck. He accused some players of lacking the mentality required to play for the club, suggesting that several members of the current squad “don’t deserve to wear the shirt.”

“The club is broken,” he said bluntly. “I am not seeing anything that is giving me confidence. There needs to be big changes, in my opinion. Manager, players — whatever that is. Whatever it takes to get Manchester United back.”

The former England striker’s remarks reflect the frustration of a growing section of United’s fan base, many of whom have called for a total rebuild of the squad. Rooney argued that the team needs “a new engine” — a core group of players who can restore the club’s identity and fighting spirit.

Supporters’ patience appears to be wearing thin, with social media filled with calls for greater accountability from both the players and management. Some fans were even seen leaving the Gtech Community Stadium before the final whistle during Saturday’s defeat.

Pressure Mounts on Ruben Amorim

For manager Ruben Amorim, the scrutiny is intensifying. When he was appointed in late 2023, Amorim was seen as one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches, renowned for his success with Sporting CP and tactical innovations. However, his tenure at Old Trafford has so far been plagued by inconsistency, injuries, and a failure to string together convincing performances.

Club insiders maintain that Amorim retains the backing of key decision-makers, who are eager to avoid the managerial instability that has characterized United’s post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Since 2013, the club has gone through six permanent managers, each struggling to replicate the dominance of Ferguson’s reign.

Nevertheless, the pressure is unlikely to ease soon. United’s upcoming fixtures include a midweek Carabao Cup clash and a crucial league game against Tottenham Hotspur, both of which could shape the narrative around Amorim’s future.

For Rooney, the road back to glory will require more than just short-term fixes. “Supporters are waiting for the club to crumble,” he warned, emphasizing that urgent and decisive changes are needed to stop the slide.

The remarks from one of United’s most decorated icons will add to the growing debate over the club’s direction. Whether Amorim and his players can respond on the pitch and silence their critics remains to be seen, but the coming weeks could prove decisive for a side struggling to find its way back to the top of English football.