Wayne Rooney has delivered a damning verdict on Manchester United’s current state, insisting the club has lost its soul and that he has no faith in manager Ruben Amorim’s ability to turn things around.
Amorim’s struggles continued after United’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford, a result that leaves the Portuguese coach with just 34 points from his 33 Premier League matches in charge. Despite heavy spending in the summer, with signings including Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, United remain stuck in 14th place and have yet to show any signs of consistency.
Last season was already one of the darkest in the club’s history, with United finishing 15th — their lowest league position in more than half a century. For Rooney, the decline has become unbearable to watch.
“I just don’t know what’s going on,” the 39-year-old said on his podcast. “Ruben Amorim is my age, still a young coach with a future ahead of him. But this isn’t Manchester United. I hope he proves me wrong, but after what I’ve seen, I’ve got no faith in it.”
The club’s all-time leading scorer, who won five league titles and a Champions League at Old Trafford, admitted he attends games expecting defeat rather than victory.
“I don’t see players fighting. I don’t see character. I don’t see that desire to win,” Rooney said. “The soul of the club has gone. It needs something — a spark, a new energy — to bring it back to life. And it’s not just about the manager. Some of the players don’t deserve to wear that shirt, and that hurts.”
Rooney also pointed to a deeper cultural decline, suggesting Manchester United no longer resembles the powerhouse built under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I see staff losing jobs. I see people walking out. I’ve got two kids in the academy, and I just hope it doesn’t affect them. But what’s happening right now… it’s not Manchester United.”
