Marcus Rashford suggested the 'inconsistent environment' at Manchester United impacted his performances for the club but Wayne Rooney has his doubts
Amie Wilson
08:09, 17 Oct 2025Updated 08:13, 17 Oct 2025
Marcus Rashford of England during the International Friendly between England and Wales at Wembley Stadium.
View 2 Images
Marcus Rashford is thriving at Barcelona since making the move from Man Utd in the summer(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney has hit back at Marcus Rashford's remarks after the forward claimed an 'inconsistent environment' at Manchester United affected his displays for the club.
The attacker featured in just six matches under Ruben Amorim last term before securing a January loan switch to Aston Villa. This summer saw him seal another temporary departure from Old Trafford, this time linking up with Spanish heavyweights Barcelona.
Rashford came up through the academy at United. During his time in the first team he has played under eight different managers, including interim and caretakers after Louis van Gaal handed him his debut back in 2016..
After losing form at Old Trafford, Rashford is now thriving in Catalonia, scoring three goals and providing five assists across his ten outings campaign. Rashford was also included in England's squad for the friendly clash with Wales and the World Cup qualifying encounter against Latvia.
"For sure, consistency is a massive part of it. I feel like I have been in an inconsistent environment for a very long time, so it is even more difficult to be consistent," he revealed to ITV while on international duty.
Wayne Rooney
View 2 Images
Wayne Rooney has slammed Marcus Rashford's Man United claim(Image: Getty Images)
"But I completely agree, I think consistency is what I need to bring into my game, and I am looking to do that. I want to be at my best, not sometimes, but as often as possible.
"When people talk about consistency, in order to be consistent in anything, not just sport, you need consistent variables in your life and the way you train. We have just had so many changes so far in my career.
"But I have to look forward, and that is definitely one of the things I want to put right and improve on to be at my best more often. When I am at my best, I really enjoy everything about the sport."
Don't miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
Rooney has now given his take on Rashford's comments, with the former United skipper choosing to focus on the player rather than the 'environment'.
"I think the environment hasn't been right but that is down to yourself," he stated on The Wayne Rooney Show.
Article continues below
"If you are not playing well or you get left out of the team then I think it is easier to blame the environment and whether that is right or wrong. I think that comes from how you apply yourself.
"In games we have seen with him where we know he can do more, we know he can run more - that is nothing to do with an environment.
"I might be wrong here, I really like Marcus as a lad and as a person but I think that is an easy one to throw at people."