Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has accused the club’s players of being selfish and refusing to take responsibility for their poor performances as tensions continue to grow at Old Trafford.
Rooney’s criticism follows Manchester United’s disappointing 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League, a result that intensified concerns about the club’s performances and raised fresh questions about manager Michael Carrick’s position.
Speaking on the United Stand podcast, the former England international expressed shock at the situation surrounding his former club, describing it as one of the most worrying periods he had witnessed in a long time.
Rooney was particularly concerned that public disagreements between defender Lisandro Martinez and captain Bruno Fernandes could deepen divisions within the dressing room at a time when the team needs unity.
“When Martinez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart,” Rooney said.
He argued that Martinez’s public comments had set a troubling precedent, warning that other players could follow suit instead of addressing their concerns internally.
“That was the start. We’ve seen it now with Bruno and you’re going to see it with more players because they don’t want to take responsibility,” he added.
Rooney insisted that Manchester United’s players must focus on improving their performances rather than directing criticism towards teammates, the manager or the club’s leadership.
Although he acknowledged that Fernandes’ comments could be open to debate, Rooney maintained that accountability must begin with the players themselves.
“You can say whether Bruno was right or wrong in what he said but you have to take responsibility on the pitch. You have to take responsibility as a group of players,” he said.
The former striker delivered an even stronger assessment of the squad, accusing some members of putting their personal interests ahead of the club.
“These players, they’re selfish. They don’t care about their team-mates, don’t care about the manager, the staff or the fans, they care about themselves,” Rooney said.
He also criticised players who, in his view, respond negatively when circumstances do not favour them, arguing that they deflect blame instead of accepting responsibility for the team’s struggles.
Fernandes has also come under scrutiny following a dip in form after an outstanding previous campaign, during which he won the PFA and FWA Player of the Year awards and set a Premier League record for assists in a single season.
Rooney believes the Portuguese midfielder must examine his own performances rather than placing pressure on other individuals.
“He is putting pressure on someone else because he doesn’t want to face it,” Rooney said, urging Fernandes, Martinez and their teammates to reflect honestly on their contributions.
The former United captain’s comments come amid wider concerns about the relationship between the players and the club’s hierarchy.
Martinez previously attracted criticism from Rooney after publicly questioned the club’s recruitment strategy and called for greater investment following a Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
The Argentine defender had argued that Manchester United needed more quality in the squad to compete against Europe’s strongest teams, while also expressing his expectation that technical director Jason Wilcox would do more to strengthen the team.
Rooney previously described Martinez’s intervention as disrespectful to his teammates, arguing that such concerns should be discussed privately with the manager and the club’s leadership.
The latest controversy has added to the pressure surrounding Carrick, whose position has come under increasing scrutiny amid Manchester United’s poor run of results.
Rooney warned that the manager must become more assertive in dealing with the situation, drawing on his own experiences managing Plymouth Argyle and Birmingham City.
He argued that Carrick should defend his position and demand greater commitment from the squad rather than allowing internal disagreements to undermine his authority.
Reflecting on the challenges of management, Rooney said Carrick could ultimately pay the price for problems that extend beyond the manager’s immediate control.
“There are certain things you’ve got to do to protect them players, but 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.
Rooney’s remarks highlight the growing tension surrounding Manchester United, where disappointing results, public criticism and uncertainty over the manager’s future have combined to create an increasingly difficult situation.
The former striker’s central argument is that changes in recruitment or management alone will not solve the club’s problems unless the players also accept responsibility for their performances.
For Carrick, restoring unity within the dressing room and demanding consistent performances will be crucial as Manchester United attempt to recover from their latest setback.
The club’s immediate challenge is to prevent the disagreements from escalating further while finding a way to improve results on the pitch. With scrutiny mounting, the response of the players and the manager could prove decisive in determining whether Manchester United can regain stability.
