Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United has lost its soul. He has no faith in manager Ruben Amorim and fears the club will continue to slide.
Rooney attacks club leadership
United’s record goalscorer called the club “broken” in his own podcast. He now goes to games expecting them to lose. The 3-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday left United with only 34 points from Amorim’s 33 league matches. The team has still not managed back-to-back wins under his leadership.
The board continues to support Amorim despite the fall to 14th place. Rooney, however, said some players do not deserve the shirt. He insisted the side needs “a new engine” and warned fans only wait for the club to collapse.
“I don’t see anything that gives me hope. Big changes are needed,” said the former striker, who won five league titles. “Manager, players, whatever it takes – something must happen to bring Manchester United back.”
“The owners must finally send a signal”
United finished 15th last season, their worst league finish since relegation in 1974. Amorim arrived in November after winning two league titles with Sporting. But away from home, United has not won in eight league matches.
Rooney demanded clarity from the owners. “Whether it’s the Glazers or Sir Jim Ratcliffe, there must be a message about direction. At the moment, we all just wait for collapse.”
He also criticised the club culture. “It’s gone. I see staff losing their jobs or walking away. I have two kids in the academy, and I hope this doesn’t affect them. What I see there is not Manchester United.”
Amorim’s tactics under fire
After the Brentford defeat, Amorim said he never worries about his job. The Portuguese coach refuses to change his preferred 3-4-2-1 system. Former defender Micah Richards warned that this stubbornness could undo him. Alan Shearer argued Amorim was lucky to avoid being sacked.
Rooney sounded doubtful. “I failed as a manager, so I understand. Amorim is my age, he has a future. But what’s happening at United is not United. I hope he can turn it around. But if you ask me whether I believe he will, then after everything I’ve seen, honestly, I don’t.”
“The soul has gone”
The former captain slammed the team. “I don’t recognise the club anymore. I don’t see fighters, I don’t see character, I don’t see the will to win. I go to matches expecting defeat.”
For Rooney, the issues run deeper than results. “Everything needs fixing. Ratcliffe and Ineos face a huge challenge. Important staff with 20 or 30 years of service are being sacked. The soul has gone. United needs a new engine and a new start.”
Ratcliffe’s investment and shifting power
Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group bought nearly 28 percent of the club in February 2024 for £1.25 billion. Since then, staff numbers dropped from 1,100 to 700, with controversial redundancies sparking criticism.
The Glazers still hold the majority, but Ineos now controls football operations. Yet Rooney doubts that any progress is possible without drastic change.
