Rooney has lost faith in Ruben Amorim

Wayne Rooney openly stated that Ruben Amorim lacks the capability to turn things around at Manchester United following their 1-3 defeat to Brentford.

Former striker Wayne Rooney candidly expressed doubts about coach Ruben Amorim’s leadership after Manchester United suffered another 1-3 loss to Brentford in the recent Premier League round. This defeat means Man United still cannot achieve back-to-back wins since the Portuguese manager took charge in November last year.

Under Amorim, Man United has collected just 34 points from 33 domestic league matches. The 39-year-old coach’s insistence on the 3-4-2-1 formation has faced much criticism for its ineffectiveness, increasing pressure from the public. Nevertheless, the "Red Devils" management has confirmed there are currently no plans to replace Amorim.

Rooney, a Man United legend, believes the team is losing its identity and fighting spirit. In the latest episode of his podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, the 39-year-old former striker said: “I truly don’t understand what’s happening. I’ve also tried coaching and wasn’t very successful, so I get how tough it is. Ruben Amorim is my age, still young, and has a future ahead. But what’s happening at Man United right now – this is no longer the Man United I used to know.”

Rooney continued: “I hope he can reverse the situation and succeed. But if you ask me whether I believe that will happen, after everything I’ve seen, honestly, I have no faith. I don’t see any signs of confidence. In my opinion, major changes are needed – whether in the coach, players, or anything necessary to bring Man United back to its rightful place.”

Man United invested over £260 million in the summer transfer window, including £200 million on three new forwards: Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko. However, their on-field results have not significantly improved, with Sesko only recently scoring his first goal for the club in the defeat to Brentford.

Beyond criticizing Amorim, Rooney believes the problems at Man United run deeper into the club’s structure. He stated: “I no longer recognize this club. I don’t see players fighting, no character, no hunger for victory. I come to the stadium thinking: ‘Here we go again’ – expecting the team to lose or just barely scrape a point.”

Rooney also mentioned major internal changes at Man United after longtime staff were dismissed when billionaire Jim Ratcliffe and the Ineos group took over: “It’s not just about results on the pitch. Everything in the club needs fixing. The soul of the team has vanished. The club needs new motivation, new energy. Something to restart Manchester United.”