Wayne Rooney sharply criticised the Manchester United squad as ‘selfish’ following their 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League on Wednesday. The loss left United 20th in the competition’s standings and extended their winless streak to seven games.
United’s display in Italy was especially poor, conceding inside two minutes and offering little threat in attack until Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation goal in injury time. The result came just three days after a goalless draw at Elland Road, intensifying pressure on interim manager Michael Carrick ahead of Sunday’s home game against Bournemouth.
Rooney did not hold back in his assessment of the players’ attitude. Speaking on Stick to United, he said, “These players, they are selfish. They don’t care about their teammates, don’t care about the manager, the staff or the fans, they care about themselves. If they’re not getting what’s right for them, they’re like babies and just throw their toys out of the pram and go and deflect the blame onto anyone else but themselves.”
The criticism from Rooney followed controversy involving United captain Bruno Fernandes, who publicly questioned Carrick’s tactics after the match. Fernandes expressed confusion over the decision not to press man-to-man, comments that drew a sharp rebuke from Jamie Carragher, who called Fernandes a "disgrace" for his remarks, especially given his strong performances under Carrick during the latter half of last season.
The defeat to Como compounded what has been a difficult start to the Champions League campaign for United. The Italian side, new to the competition, capitalised on United’s lack of defensive organisation and sluggish attacking play. Carrick’s side struggled to find rhythm or urgency, leaving fans and analysts alike frustrated.
United’s position in the Champions League group looks precarious after this setback. Their next fixture against Bournemouth at Old Trafford offers a chance to halt the run of poor results, but the mood around the club remains tense. Rooney’s comments reflect growing impatience with a squad that has yet to show collective commitment or cohesion under Carrick’s temporary stewardship.
The players’ response to Rooney’s critique and the mounting pressure on the coaching staff will be closely watched as United seek to recover form amid increasing scrutiny from fans and pundits.
According to Yahoo Sports.
