Rooney tears into Manchester United players: ‘They’re selfish babies’

The former United captain has delivered his harshest verdict yet on the current squad, warning that weak management will cost the manager his job

By Pascal Okoth

Wayne Rooney has launched a blistering attack on Manchester United’s current players, accusing them of selfishness, immaturity and a wilful disregard for their teammates, manager, staff and supporters. The former United captain’s remarks have reignited a fierce debate about the club’s culture, leadership and the deepening malaise at Old Trafford.

Rooney, who spent more than a decade at United winning multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League under Sir Alex Ferguson, pulled no punches in his assessment of a squad he believes has lost its way. His frustration mirrors that of a supporter base increasingly exasperated by inconsistent performances and a sense that standards have slipped well below what the club demands.

“These players, they’re selfish. They care about themselves; they don’t care about their teammates, the manager, the staff or the fans,” Rooney said.

The words land heavily. Manchester United have endured several turbulent seasons marked by managerial upheaval, disappointing results and a recurring failure to mount sustained title challenges. For Rooney, the rot appears to go deeper than tactics or individual error. It is, in his view, a problem of mentality and character.

He also singled out Bruno Fernandes, United’s captain, expressing concern about the Portuguese midfielder’s recent form and suggesting the pressures at the club have created an environment where individuals deflect rather than accept responsibility.

“Bruno is probably having the worst run of form he has had since joining the club,” Rooney said.

Fernandes has frequently been among United’s most influential players since his arrival, contributing goals, assists and creativity from midfield. As captain, however, he carries an additional burden — setting standards, steadying the ship in difficult moments and demonstrating the resilience that senior players are expected to model. Rooney’s comments place that leadership role firmly under the microscope.

It would be unfair, nonetheless, to pin United’s struggles on one man. Football is a collective endeavour, and the responsibility for a team’s underperformance spreads across the squad, coaching staff and boardroom alike. Fernandes’ form must be assessed within that wider context.

Rooney’s sharpest words, however, were reserved for the squad’s response to criticism. His characterisation of certain players as emotionally immature cut to what he sees as the heart of the problem.

“They’re like babies and just throw their toys out of the pram and go and deflect the blame onto anyone else but themselves,” he said.

At elite level, accountability is not optional. Players who respond to setbacks with excuses, public grievances or blame-shifting do not merely damage their own reputations — they erode the collective confidence of a dressing room already under pressure. Rooney’s remarks suggest he wants to see a harder, more disciplined group capable of confronting its failures honestly and responding with action rather than deflection.

His perspective carries weight precisely because of where he has been. He played under Ferguson at a time when accountability was non-negotiable and standards were ruthlessly enforced. The contrast with the current environment at United, at least as Rooney perceives it, appears stark.

His warning to the manager was equally pointed. In a message that felt directed as much at United’s coaching staff as at the players themselves, Rooney argued that leniency is a trap.

“There’s no more Mr Nice Guy. You have to come out fighting for yourself because those players will drag you down, and it’s going to be you who’s going to lose your job over it,” he said.

It is a sobering observation. Manchester United managers have repeatedly found themselves paying the price for results that reflect broader squad and structural problems. Rooney’s argument is that managers must establish authority early, demand accountability firmly and refuse to allow a culture of excuse-making to take root.

Whether his assessment is entirely fair is a matter of debate. Building a successful team requires more than confrontation — it demands trust, open communication and a shared sense of purpose. But the broader point stands. Manchester United cannot return to sustained success on reputation alone.

Players who pull on that shirt carry a responsibility that extends beyond individual performance. They owe the club, its supporters and each other a standard of commitment and accountability that, if Rooney is to be believed, is currently falling well short of what Old Trafford expects.

The post Rooney tears into Manchester United players: ‘They’re selfish babies’ appeared first on The Mt Kenya Times.