Wayne Rooney warns Tottenham are in relegation battle

Wayne Rooney has warned Tottenham they are firmly in a relegation battle after another damaging Premier League defeat deepened concerns over their form and squad situation.

Spurs slipped to a 2-0 loss away at Manchester United on Saturday, extending a miserable run that has now produced just two wins from their last 16 league matches. The result leaves Tottenham 15th in the table, only six points clear of the relegation zone, with pressure mounting around head coach Thomas Frank.

Rooney delivered his assessment while speaking on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, pointing to both form and league position as clear warning signs.

“You’d have to say they are with their current form,” Rooney said. “West Ham have been in form, Nottingham Forest pick up results here and there. You can’t think that they’re not in a relegation battle where they are. I think they’ll definitely be looking over their shoulders.”

Frank’s task has been made significantly harder by a growing injury crisis. Tottenham travelled to Old Trafford with just 11 outfield players available, severely limiting options both in the starting line-up and from the bench.

Cristian Romero’s red card against Manchester United means the captain will miss Tuesday night’s clash with Newcastle, while Destiny Udogie was forced off with a thigh problem on his return from injury. Those setbacks add to an already thin squad at a time when results have turned sharply against Spurs.

The situation has allowed teams below them to close the gap. West Ham, currently 18th, have won three of their last four matches, while others around the bottom have begun to pick up points with greater consistency.

Frank only took charge at Tottenham in June, replacing Ange Postecoglou despite the club’s Europa League success. Spurs had finished 17th in the Premier League last season, and while there has been progress in Europe, domestic struggles have continued.

Tottenham qualified for the Champions League last 16 and finished fourth in the league phase, but league form has failed to match those performances. That contrast has contributed to a strained relationship between Frank and sections of the fanbase.

Having followed Tottenham closely in recent weeks, the sense is that results rather than performances are now driving the narrative. However, it remains too early to draw firm conclusions about Frank’s long-term future given the scale of the challenges he has faced.

Despite his bleak assessment of the league situation, Rooney believes Tottenham should resist the urge to make another managerial change.

“I feel for Thomas Frank because he looks tired, he looks like he’s aged 10 years,” Rooney said. “That’s what that Tottenham job has done to him in a short period of time.

“I hope they stick with him because he’s a fantastic manager, but I think it’s going be very difficult for them to do that.”

Rooney also pointed to off-field and leadership issues, suggesting discipline problems have only added to the pressure.

“You don’t need your captain going out getting sent off on a regular basis or being as vocal as he was this week,” he added.

Tottenham face Newcastle on Tuesday night, a fixture that now carries extra significance given their league position and squad availability. With Romero suspended and further injury doubts, Frank may be forced into further reshuffling.

Beyond that, Spurs enter a critical stretch where momentum could swing quickly either way. A positive result could stabilise the situation, while another defeat would intensify scrutiny and increase the pressure heading into the latter part of the season.

Do you agree with Rooney’s assessment, or will Spurs pull clear before the pressure peaks?