Wayne Rooney has claimed that Manchester United are “broken” and that the club has lost its soul under current management, admitting he goes to games “expecting” them to lose.
Speaking on the latest edition of The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC, United’s all-time record goalscorer said he does not believe head coach Ruben Amorim can revive the club’s fortunes after their latest setback — a 3-1 defeat at Brentford.
The result leaves United 14th in the Premier League and winless in their last eight away games, their worst run on the road since 2019. Amorim has now collected just 34 points from 33 league games since his appointment last November.
Rooney on United’s decline
Rooney pulled no punches in his assessment of his former club.
“I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion. Manager, players, whatever that is. Whatever it takes to get Manchester United back.” — Wayne Rooney, BBC podcast
The ex-England striker said some players “don’t deserve to wear the shirt” and argued the side “needs a new engine,” while adding that fans are simply “waiting for the club to crumble.”
Rooney also accused the club of losing its identity: “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 is not Manchester United.”
Criticism of Amorim
Amorim, 40, has faced growing criticism for sticking rigidly to his 3-4-2-1 system, with pundits suggesting it is hindering United’s ability to adapt. Micah Richards warned it could lead to his “undoing,” while Alan Shearer said he was “lucky” to have avoided being sacked after such a poor run.
Rooney, who himself had a brief and difficult spell in management, admitted he sympathised with Amorim’s youth and inexperience but questioned whether he could survive at Old Trafford.
“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,” he said.
A club in crisis off the pitch too
Rooney’s concerns also extended beyond the pitch. Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group bought a 27.7% stake in United in February 2024, the number of staff employed by the club has dropped from 1,100 to around 700 amid widespread redundancies.
“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,” Rooney added.
He called for clarity from the owners: “There needs to be a clear message from the owners. Whether that is the Glazers, 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.”
Analyst verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William said Rooney’s words reflect the mood around the club. “When a figure like Rooney says he expects United to lose, it underlines how low confidence is. The problem isn’t just Amorim — it’s structural, cultural, and runs through the club.”
He added: “Amorim is young and talented, but United are a storm of uncertainty. Without direction from above, no coach can succeed. Rooney is right — United need more than tactics; they need identity back.”
Key insights
- Rooney says the “soul has gone” from Manchester United and he has “no faith” in Amorim.
- United have 34 points from 33 league games under Amorim, sitting 14th in the table.
- Ex-striker says some players “don’t deserve to wear the shirt.”
- Micah Richards and Alan Shearer also critical of Amorim’s rigid tactics.
- Staff redundancies under Ineos and the Glazers have fuelled discontent.
What’s next for United?
United face a crucial run of fixtures as Amorim battles to keep his job. With fans and club legends openly voicing their disillusionment, pressure is building on both the manager and ownership to deliver not only results, but a clearer sense of identity and purpose.
👉 Has Manchester United truly lost its soul, or is Rooney right that only sweeping changes can save them?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 29 Sep 2025 09:48
The system isn't the problem in the league, look at Palace. But Amorim doesn't utilize the players. Shaw is a left back, shouldn't be playing as a CB - Bruno is a 10 shouldn't be playing as CM.
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