Manchester United's Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim is seen before kick off of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 14, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES. AN ADDITIONAL 40 IMAGES MAY BE USED IN EXTRA TIME. NO VIDEO EMULATION. SOCIAL MEDIA IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES. AN ADDITIONAL 40 IMAGES MAY BE USED IN EXTRA TIME. NO USE IN BETTING PUBLICATIONS, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. /
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has launched a scathing criticism of the club’s current trajectory under head coach Ruben Amorim, claiming the Red Devils have “got worse” despite nearly a year of his leadership.
Rooney’s comments came after United’s dismal 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, September 14, which left many frustrated supporters leaving long before the final whistle.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds, the former United captain and record goalscorer expressed doubts over Amorim’s ability to revive the struggling side.
“I want to be as supportive and positive as I can be of the manager and the players,” Rooney said.
“But it is tough to sit here and say we are seeing progression, or even signs that results will come soon. We’re seeing none of that, and it is very difficult.”
The ex-England striker noted the stark image of United fans exiting the stadium early, despite still chanting Amorim’s name:
“That was powerful, but also sad. The fans were leaving because they were disappointed with what they were seeing. It is hard to see how this continues.”
Amorim’s Struggles
Amorim, 40, was appointed on November 1, 2024, after the dismissal of Erik ten Hag. Despite spending over £250 million on new signings and offloading several fringe players, United’s performances have remained inconsistent.
The Portuguese coach has stuck to his preferred 3-4-3 system, a formation that brought him success at Sporting Lisbon, but it has yet to yield results in the Premier League.
Last season, United finished 15th with just 42 points—their lowest league finish since 1989–90 and worst points tally since relegation in 1973–74.
Rooney’s Final Verdict
Rooney, who scored 253 goals for United between 2004 and 2017, admitted he initially hoped Amorim would steady the ship after Ten Hag’s sacking but believes the opposite has happened.
“I think if the manager is honest with himself, it has got worse,” Rooney concluded.
United’s struggles have once again raised questions about the club’s long-term strategy, with fans demanding both results and a clear plan for the future.
