Wayne Rooney has claimed that Manchester United has “got worse” under Ruben Amorim nearly a year into his tenure as the head coach of the team.
The former club captain and record goalscorer delivered a stinging assessment following United’s 3-0 derby defeat against Manchester City on Sunday.
Many travelling supporters left the Etihad Stadium long before the final whistle, highlighting growing frustrations with the team’s performances.
United appointed Amorim on November 1 last year after sacking Erik ten Haag, but Rooney believes the Portuguese manager has shown little progress in reviving the club’s fortunes.
“I want to be as supportive and positive as I can be on the manager and the players,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds.
“But it is very difficult to sit here and say we are seeing progression, or at least things that will get results in the near future. We’re seeing none of that, and it is very difficult.”
Rooney also pointed to the visible discontent among supporters, adding:
“There was an image towards the end of the game where I saw the United fans leaving.”
“You could hear the fans singing Amorim’s name, but the fact they were leaving is very powerful.
“They were clearly disappointed in what they were seeing. It is hard to see how it continues.”
United endured a dismal campaign last season, finishing 15th with just 42 points – their lowest league finish since 1989–90 and their fewest points in the top flight since relegation in 1973–74.
Since Amorim’s appointment, United have spent around £250m on new signings while moving on several unwanted players.
The 40-year-old coach has reshaped the side into a 3-4-3 formation, sticking to the system that brought him success at Sporting Lisbon.
However, many of the issues from last season have persisted.
Reflecting on the club’s direction, Rooney concluded:
“After Ten Hag got sacked and Ruben came in, we were told how they were going to play and how things would change. But if the manager is honest with himself, it has got worse.”
