Wayne Rooney has outlined his "biggest concern" following Manchester United's calamitous League Cup exit to Grimsby Town and suggested "something's broken" under Ruben Amorim
Wayne Rooney speaks on The Wayne Rooney Show
Wayne Rooney is worried "something's broken" at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim
(Image: BBC)
Manchester United great Wayne Rooney has suggested "something's broken" at the club following their League Cup exit to Grimsby. And it's Ruben Amorim's remarks regarding his squad following the penalty shootout misery that concerns him the most.
The Red Devils bowed out of the competition's second round on Wednesday after a 12-11 defeat on spot kicks. United came back from two goals down to tie level and force a shootout, only to suffer more disappointment as another glum start to a season lingers on.
Amorim, 40, raised alarms after the match when he commented that: "My players spoke for me, really loud." And some interpreted that to mean the manager feels his squad gave a performance indicative of what they're willing to put in for their boss.
After a record-low 15th-place finish in the Premier League last term and a wave of new signings, many expected more from United this season. But an opening-weekend defeat at home to Arsenal, followed by a disappointing draw at Fulham and their capitulation at Grimsby suggests more pain lies ahead.
"That's the biggest concern," said Rooney on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show when confronted with Amorim's response after the game, which hinted at a lack of buy-in from his players. His words were damning on the players. If your manager comes out with those words, there's something broken."
Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim speaks to the media in front of of the Carabao Branded board
Amorim appeared at a loss at times while speaking after the Grimsby defeat
Many United fans would agree with that sentiment. The post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been dotted with disappointment, and there's no clear indicator things are going to get better anytime soon.
Amorim's predecessor, Erik ten Hag, was in charge when the club won the FA Cup last year, having clinched the League Cup the season before. And just when it seemed as though United couldn't do worse than a then-record-low finish of eighth under the Dutchman, Amorim failed to improve matters as they plummeted into the bottom half.
There is now mounting pressure suggesting Amorim could be sacked not even one year into his tenure at Old Trafford. And Rooney's comments touch upon a concern the manager himself is perhaps losing faith in what can be accomplished with those currently at his disposal.
"What we forget is he's only 40. He's a young manager," added Rooney. "Manchester United is so different to where he's been before. You come in and there's the media team, the commercial team, the fans and the media.
Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag in 2021
Amorim has done even worse than predecessor Erik ten Hag to this point
"There's a pressure with United, which he will never have felt before. When you're not winning games, that can start to get [to you], and it looked like he was at a breaking point."
One consistent criticism that's arisen around United's players in the post-Ferguson period is a lack of leadership despite Amorim's best attempts to resolve that issue. The Scot intentionally identified and recruited players of a certain resolve throughout his 27-year tenure at Old Trafford.
Failing to find those same kinds of characters has perhaps been the biggest differential between Ferguson's success and every regime since his departure 12 years ago. And it's that shortcoming which may soon lead to another change in leadership given Rooney's worry regarding Amorim's demeanour.