Manchester United’s all-time top scorer, Wayne Rooney, has said that he no longer recognizes the club.
The former football star made this statement following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat against Brentford. Even though United spent heavily last summer to bring in players such as Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, the team currently sits in 14th place in the Premier League.
“I don’t see players fighting, I don’t see character, I don’t see the desire to win. I go to the stadium thinking they will lose, or maybe get a draw. The spirit of the club is gone. A new engine, a new spirit is needed to revive the club,” Rooney said.
He emphasized that the problem does not lie solely with coach Ruben Amorim.
“The players don’t deserve to wear that shirt either, and that hurts,” the former England striker added.
Rooney also touched on the cultural changes at the club, which under Sir Alex Ferguson had dominated English football for two decades.
“I see it every day. Staff losing their jobs, people leaving. I have two kids in the club’s academy and I hope this situation doesn’t affect them. But what I see today is not Manchester United,” he said.
He expressed his wish for the current coach to turn the situation around in United’s favor, though without much belief it will happen.
“I don’t know what’s going on. Ruben Amorim is my age, a young coach with a big future, but what we are seeing at Manchester United is not Manchester United. I hope he can turn it around, but honestly I have no faith in that,” said one of United’s legends.
