Wayne Rooney has delivered a brutal verdict on Manchester United, declaring that the club has “lost its soul” and insisting he has no belief in Ruben Amorim’s ability to restore its former glory. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show podcast, the club’s all-time top scorer described United as “broken” and admitted he now attends matches “expecting” them to lose.
The criticism followed a 3-1 defeat to Brentford — a result that underlined United’s ongoing decline. The team has managed only 34 points from 33 league games under Amorim. That loss also leaves them languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table.
“I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion,” Rooney said. “Manager, players, whatever that is. Whatever it takes to get Manchester United back.”
Rooney Calls for Urgent Ownership Clarity
United’s current struggles come on the back of their worst top-flight finish since 1973-74, when they placed 15th last season. Amorim, appointed last November after winning consecutive Portuguese titles with Sporting, has so far failed to steady the ship. The team is now without a victory in eight straight away league matches — their longest such streak since 2019.
“There needs to be a clear message from the owners,” added Rooney. “Whether that is the Glazers, [minority owner] Sir Jim Ratcliffe, there has to be a message of where this club is going. At the minute we are all sitting there waiting for it to crumble.
“The culture of that football club has gone. I see it on a daily basis. I see staff losing jobs, people walking out of jobs. I’ve got two kids [in the academy] at that football club and I really hope this doesn’t affect what they’re doing. What I’m seeing at that football club is not Manchester United.”
Amorim’s Future Under Scrutiny Amid Tactical Concerns
Amorim has faced mounting pressure for persisting with his preferred 3-4-2-1 system despite the poor results. Following the defeat to Brentford, he remained defiant, saying: “I am never concerned about my job – I am not that kind of guy.”
“I just don’t know what’s going on,” Rooney admitted. “I have tried my hand in management and it didn’t work out too well, I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I’m sure he still has a massive future, but what’s going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd.
“I honestly hope he can turn it round and he does. But if you’re saying to me, ‘do you believe he will?’, then, after everything I’ve seen, honestly, I’ve got no faith in it.”
“This Is Not Manchester United Anymore”
Rooney said the team he once captained bears little resemblance to the club he knew. “I don’t see players fighting, I don’t see character, I don’t see desire to win,” he said. “I go to a game watching, expecting, here we go again – expecting the team to lose or maybe pick up a point.
“It’s not even just results on the pitch. It’s everything about the club that needs fixing – Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have walked into a real challenge. We’re seeing staff members getting sacked after 20, 30 years who are very important people to that football club. The soul has gone from the club. It needs a new engine, a new lease of life. It needs something to kickstart that football club.”
Ineos took control of football operations after acquiring a 27.7% stake in February 2024 for £1.25bn. While the Glazers remain majority shareholders, the club’s workforce has shrunk dramatically — from 1,100 to just 700 over the last two years — following a wave of redundancies.
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