Wayne Rooney has called Manchester United out as a "team of individuals" ahead of their Premier League clash at home to Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Rooney's fledgling punditry career continued with a TNT Sport gig, as he joined Joleon Lescott and Rio Ferdinand at Old Trafford for the lunchtime battle between his two former clubs.
United manager Erik ten Hag is under increasing pressure at the club amid a poor season, and with the new INEOS ownership watching on closely behind the scenes.
For Rooney though, it's the players who should take the blame, as he stated that they haven't been performing as a unit.
"These players need to show a bit more responsibility!"@WayneRooney discusses pressure on Erik ten Hag's shoulders at Man Utd...
🎙️ @lynseyhipgrave1 pic.twitter.com/2J17EE2yFk— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 9, 2024
Wayne Rooney calls out Man United players
"Manchester United, they press as individuals," Rooney said said. "They play as individuals, not so much as a team. Sometimes when you go and press the ball, you have to go again and go again.
"I think, Manchester City, you talk about how they play and move the ball, they're the best at it, winning the ball back and pressing as a group.
"I think Man United do it so much as individuals, it's very difficult to get consistency with that. They're in a difficult moment, the manager will always take the hit on that but these players need to show a bit more responsibility and show a bit more character."
"Wazza what's happening, you alright!?" 😊@JoleonLescott @WayneRooney @rioferdy5 bump into some Toffees pre-match 🤝 pic.twitter.com/LsjNtUmVsa
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 9, 2024
Man United's dreadful season
While it may be unfair to compare United with a well-oiled machine like City, Rooney makes a valid point about the Red Devils lacking the basic starting points to evolve into a successful team.
Whether that's all down to Ten Hag is up for debate but it appears obvious from the outside that the players aren't playing for him any more and it's all a bit reminiscent of the final days of some of his predecessors.
Prior to kick-off, United had lost 11 league games, with 11 matches left to equal their Premier League record of 12 defeats, set in both 2013/14 and 2021/22.
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