Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has claimed his former side need to make ‘massive changes’ for the club to revive its fortunes after suggesting there is ‘no way back’ for the current squad.
Rooney made the statement after Man United’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s outspoken remarks over the quality of the current squad.
In a round of interviews on Monday, Ratcliffe claimed some of the current squad are ‘overpaid and not good enough’.
The Ineos billionaire singled out Jadon Sancho, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro, Antony and Andre Onana, having admitted Man United still owe money for the big-money signings.
Ratcliffe’s comments come with Man United lying 14th in the Premier League, with their season resting on success in the Europa League.
Rooney, Man United’s record goalscorer, had sympathy for Ratcliffe’s view as he suggested there was ‘no way back’ for the current squad.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has claimed there is no way back for the current side
Rooney insisted as many as 15 players need to leave to turn Man United’s fortunes around
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe suggested some of the squad are ‘overpaid’ and ‘not good enough
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Rooney claimed between 10 to 15 players needed to leave to help change the mentality at the club.
‘No, I don’t think so [if there is a way back for the current squad].They look lost, they look scared,’ Rooney said.
‘Bruno [Fernandes] is the one who keeps producing, he annoys you at times but keeps producing.
‘They need massive changes to the squad, I think 10-15 players need to leave the club. Obviously, they can’t do that, but there is a mentality there where no one is taking responsibility [in the squad].
‘I’d keep Bruno and [Kobbie] Mainoo.
‘There is a culture at the club where it’s too easy to lose games and the players come out and say, “Onto the next one,” and all that rubbish. Just show some character and fight on the pitch.
‘It’s bad watching, it hurts. Being from Liverpool but spending so many years at United, I want the team to do well, I’ve got my kids in the academy, and it hurts watching them.’
Man United boss Ruben Amorim admitted ahead of the club’s crunch Europa League last-16 second leg with Real Sociedad that his squad are underperforming.
Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund were among the players name checked by Ratcliffe this week
Rooney claimed Man United now have a culture where it is ‘too easy’ to lose matches
Man United captain Bruno Fernandes, however, earned praise from both Ratcliffe and Rooney
Amorim issued a challenge to his players to prove Ratcliffe wrong following his brutal assessment of the squad.
‘I think if we are being honest in this moment, everybody – me, all the players – we are under-performing this season,’ Amorim said. ‘So we can always change that, and I include myself in that part of the under-performing.
‘You are talking about players like Casemiro, for example, that won everything and we know these kind of players can play so much better. That is the focus.
‘He was honest on that. The focus is to change his mind and change all the people’s minds.
‘I think it’s the right way to do it if you are a top player at this club, even me. A lot of people say I am not good enough for the club.
‘My feeling is that you can change that with results. In training, I feel that they want this really bad, especially for tomorrow.’
Asked if the players have come to him about the issue, he added: ‘No, I’ve had nothing.’
Wayne Rooney was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet
