Wayne Rooney criticizes Manchester United’s decline under Ruben Amorim after a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. He points out poor statistics, fan disillusionment, and a higher chance of relegation than a top-five finish, questioning Amorim’s impact and ability to improve the team’s performance.
Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United captain and record goalscorer, has delivered a damning assessment of the club's progress, stating that the team has regressed under the management of Ruben Amorim.
Rooney's critique comes in the wake of Manchester United's comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Phil Foden's goal, coupled with Erling Haaland's brace, condemned United to their third loss of the campaign, adding to earlier setbacks against Arsenal in the league and Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup. The result has intensified scrutiny on Amorim's leadership and the team's overall performance.
Manchester United's struggles are underscored by their dismal performance last season, where they finished 15th in the league table with a meager 42 points. This marked their lowest finish since the 1989-90 season and their fewest top-flight points since their last relegation in 1973-74. The historical context serves to highlight the depth of the club's current malaise.
Since Amorim's arrival at Old Trafford on matchday 12 of the 2024-25 season, the team's performance has continued to decline. Under his guidance, Manchester United have recorded the joint-lowest points return in the Premier League (31), a dubious distinction shared with Tottenham. This statistic paints a bleak picture of Amorim's impact on the team and raises serious questions about his ability to turn things around.
Adding weight to the criticism is a tweet from Opta Analyst, which encapsulates the extent of Manchester United's struggles under Amorim. The tweet highlights that since Amorim took charge, no ever-present Premier League team has performed worse than Manchester United, who have accumulated just 31 points from 31 games, with a -13 goal difference. This damning statistic further underscores the team's decline under the current manager.
Since MD12 of 2024-25 (Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge of Man Utd), no ever-present Premier League team have performed worse than Manchester United (31 points from 31 games, -13 goal difference). pic.twitter.com/QSpz88PyEG
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 14, 2025
During his podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney expressed his frustration and disappointment with the team's lack of progress. He admitted that it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a positive outlook, as there were no visible signs of improvement or tangible results. Rooney's comments reflect the growing disillusionment among fans and observers alike.
Rooney also highlighted the powerful image of Manchester United fans leaving the game early, while sarcastically singing Amorim’s name. He interpreted this as a clear sign of the fans' disappointment and frustration with the team's performance. The early departure of supporters is a damning indictment of the current state of affairs at Old Trafford.
The defeat to Manchester City has further jeopardized Manchester United's season, with statistical models now indicating an 11% chance of relegation from the Premier League. This is a higher probability than their 7.3% chance of finishing in the top five, according to Opta's supercomputer projections. These figures underscore the severity of the team's predicament and the urgent need for improvement.
Rooney concluded by stating that, despite initial hopes of a change in playing style following Ten Hag's departure and Amorim's arrival, the team has actually deteriorated. He emphasized the importance of winning games while implementing a new style, suggesting that Amorim has failed to strike the right balance between tactical innovation and achieving results.
The situation at Manchester United is undeniably dire, with Rooney's comments adding to the mounting pressure on Amorim and the team. The club faces a crucial period ahead as they seek to address their on-field struggles and restore their reputation as one of the top teams in English football. With mounting pressure from fans and club legends like Rooney, Amorim will need to produce immediate and drastic improvement.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Amorim can steer the ship back on course or whether Manchester United will continue to flounder in mediocrity. The fans are demanding change, and the club's hierarchy will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the team is moving in the right direction. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but Manchester United must find a way to overcome them if they are to reclaim their status as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Old Trafford to see if Amorim can turn things around and deliver the results that the fans are so desperately craving. The pressure is on, and the stakes are high, making this a pivotal moment in Manchester United's history.