Wayne Rooney says he would keep just two Manchester United players at the club as the Red Devils legend hit out at the “rubbish” culture.
Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag at the helm in November but the expected uplift in results and performances hasn’t come to pass.
United sit 14th in the Premier League having been dumped out of both cups, with the Europa League their only remaining chance of silverware this season, with glory in that competition also securing a place in the Champions League next season.
They take on Real Sociedad in the second leg of their last-16 clash on Thursday with the tie evenly poised at 1-1 and Amorim is well aware of the importance of getting through to the quarter-final.
Ahead of the clash at Old Trafford, Amorim said: “This game is also important to give us more energy to continue the season.
“It’s not going to change a lot in terms of the ideas for the next season, but it will give us more energy to finish the season in a different way. So it’s going to be a really important game for us.”
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But Rooney can’t see a way back for this United side, and named just two players he would keep while “10-15 players need to leave”.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Rooney said: “[On whether there is a way back for this Manchester United team] No, I don’t think so. They look lost. They look scared. Bruno [Fernandes] is the one who keeps producing, he annoys you at times but keeps producing. They need massive changes to the squad, I think 10-15 players need to leave the club. Obviously, they can’t do that, but there is a mentality there where no one is taking responsibility [in the squad].
“[On the players to keep] I’d keep Bruno and [Kobbie] Mainoo. There is a culture at the club where it’s too easy to lose games and the players come out and say, ‘Onto the next one,’ and all that rubbish. Just show some character and fight on the pitch. It’s bad watching, it hurts. Being from Liverpool but spending so many years at United, I want the team to do well, I’ve got my kids in the academy, and it hurts watching them.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s interview this week highlighted the financial woes that will prevent Amorim from making such sweeping changes to his squad, but winning the Europa League to grant entry into the Champions League next season would provide him with a significantly bigger pot of money to work with.
