Former captain of Manchester United was saddened by the club's current situation and pointed his finger at the players, accusing them of lack of emotion. “They look numb,” Wayne Rooney laments.
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27/10/2026
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Wayne Rooney directed hard words to the Manchester United squad this Tuesday, accusing Bruno Fernandes and company of lack of emotion and “passing in the field”. In the podcast ‘Stick to United’, the former captain of the red devils was very outraged by the current situation of the club, still assuming the desire to intervene before the latest events.
“ I don't think players have reason to complain. What's not fair is the exhibits they're doing. I saw the pain and revolt on the faces of the supporters. Players walk the lawn. Look at Martínez when Rayan ran past him. They can't get to the ball! It's extremely frustrating as a player. I was a player who, of course, could score goals and had some individual quality, but more than that, ran, worked hard and gave everything for the team, even when things were difficult”, he started by saying Rooney.
“ These players don't do that. I'd love to get into that locker room. I'd love to come in and sit them all down and ask them, 'What the hell are you doing? What kind of exhibition do you think this is? Do you think everyone deserves to wear that sweater, considering the way they walk the lawn?’. I'd give them a real shake, because they're not making any [bleep],” he lamented.
Rooney also returned to contest the introduction of the VAR in the Premier League and placed himself next to the fans, pointing batteries to the “players who seem anesthetized”.
“Football is a game of emotions. That's why I hate the VAR: it takes emotion to the game. If we can't live football with emotion, then what is it? That's why fans love this sport. The whole game revolves around emotions, what it makes us feel. It can make your weekend the best ever or make you feel like leaving the house. But now the players seem anesthetized, like they don't even care. Some may care, but they end up being dragged by each other”, concluded the former English advanced, who wore the United sweater in 559 games.
“ At least I ******* ran!” An emotional @WayneRooney tears into the Man United players after another humiliating defeat. https://t.co/qSPy5kxTS2
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) October 27, 2026
Carrick safe... for now
Rooney's strong words appear on the same day that the English press advances that Michael Carrick will, after all, remain in the position of coach, despite the bad results of this season – only two wins in 12 games.
The home defeat in front of Bournemouth (0-3), last Sunday, seemed to be the ‘water drop’, but Manchester United’s direction decided to hold the English coach, after a meeting that took place yesterday with the presence of the seniors responsible, including the co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, executive director Omar Berrada and football director Jason Wilcox, advance the The Athletic.
Michael Carrick will not have participated in this meeting, but has performed in Carrington, United Training Center, to watch the game of the sub-21 team against Hull City, having guided the training session of the main team on Tuesday. Ruben Amorim's successor in Old Trafford will be in office at least until Saturday, when Manchester United faces Chelsea.