Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has criticised the club’s current players, accusing them of being selfish and refusing to take responsibility for their poor performances amid growing tension at Old Trafford.
Rooney made the remarks following Manchester United’s 4–1 defeat to Italian side Como in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, a result that intensified scrutiny of manager Michael Carrick and exposed disagreements between players and the coaching staff.
Speaking on The United Stand podcast, the former England captain expressed concern that public criticism from defender Lisandro MartÃnez and captain Bruno Fernandes could deepen divisions within the dressing room.
Rooney said he became worried about the situation after MartÃnez publicly criticised the club’s leadership, warning that such disagreements could damage unity among the players.
“When MartÃnez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart,” Rooney said, adding that Fernandes’ subsequent comments had further heightened tensions.
The former United forward argued that players were increasingly shifting blame instead of examining their own performances. He insisted that regardless of disagreements over tactics or decisions made by the manager, players must take responsibility for their contributions on the pitch.
“These players, they’re selfish. They don’t care about their team-mates, don’t care about the manager, the staff or the fans, they care about themselves,” Rooney said.
He further accused some members of the squad of reacting poorly when things did not go their way, arguing that they deflected criticism rather than working together to improve the team’s performances.
Fernandes has also come under scrutiny following his comments about United’s tactical approach in the defeat to Como. Rooney acknowledged that the captain could have valid concerns but maintained that he must also reflect on his own form rather than place pressure on the coaching staff.
The Portuguese midfielder enjoyed an outstanding previous campaign, earning the Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year awards and setting a Premier League record for assists in a single season. However, Rooney believes Fernandes must respond to his recent dip in form by taking greater responsibility.
Rooney also expressed concern about Carrick’s position, calling on Manchester United’s board to provide clarity about the manager’s future as pressure continues to mount following the team’s poor run of results.
The former United captain warned that continued disagreements between players and management could make an already difficult situation worse, stressing the need for greater unity and accountability throughout the club.
Manchester United are expected to turn their attention to their next Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday as they seek to recover from the heavy European defeat and ease growing concerns among supporters.
Rooney’s comments have added to the scrutiny surrounding the club, with questions continuing over the team’s performances, the manager’s future and the apparent tensions within the dressing room.
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