- Man United have lost eight games this season, two of which came in the last week
- The pressure on Erik ten Hag is increasing, but Rooney wants the players to go a step further
- Is Erik ten Hag crazy at Man United? Listen to this It all starts
Manchester United’s all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney believes the team’s current crop of players must start taking responsibility for their performances after a disastrous start to the season.
The Red Devils finished third in the Premier League and ended their trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup last season, but they have failed to match those results so far this season.
United have lost eight of their 15 games in all competitions, suffering back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle at Old Trafford this week.
Pressure is mounting on manager Erik ten Hag and Gary Neville hinted he could be sacked quickly after Wednesday’s latest defeat, but Rooney, who recently returned to England to take charge of Birmingham City, believes the players are missing their mark. must participate. of blame and step up to save their season.
“That’s the job,” Rooney said when asked about the pressure Ten Hag is facing.
Wayne Rooney has called on Man United players to ‘take responsibility’ for their performances
Rooney believes the players can do ‘much more’ to turn around the team’s season
The pressure on Erik ten Hag is increasing as his team has lost eight of their fifteen matches this season
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‘That’s part of the job, we all know that when we take on jobs. I know when I come here (Birmingham City) there’s a lot of pressure. I’m sure Ten Hag knows that at Man United.
‘It’s not going as well as they would like or hoped, but the players have to take responsibility. I know some players, they are not performing at the level I know they are.
‘Ultimately it starts and ends with the manager, that’s part of being a manager. After the past few weeks you get the criticism, but players can do much more.’
Rooney’s comments come amid reports that resentment is simmering in the United dressing room, with some players believing Ten Hag has favorites within the squad he continues to protect.
Paul Merson also believes Ten Hag has ‘lost the players’ after watching the side slump to a one-sided defeat to Newcastle as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup.
Ten Hag has reportedly held one-on-one discussions with his players in an attempt to resolve the unrest in the dressing room, but he needs to start achieving positive results on the pitch if he is to remain in the Old Trafford dugout.
United are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Fulham before taking on FC Copenhagen in the Champions League and hosting Luton next weekend in what promises to be a crucial week in their season.