Wayne Rooney says Michael Carrick has been badly let down by Manchester United squad

Manchester United’s players must accept greater responsibility for the club’s poor run and have “let down” manager Michael Carrick “massively”, according to former captain Wayne Rooney.

United have gone eight matches without a win in all competitions, with their last victory coming in a 4-0 Champions League success against Azerbaijani side Sabah in mid-September.

Since then, they have suffered five defeats and drawn three times, beginning with the loss to Manchester City in the Manchester derby.

Their crisis has deepened during the past week after heavy defeats by Como and Bournemouth. United lost those matches by a combined score of 7-1 and have conceded 16 goals while scoring six during their winless run.

Carrick remains in charge, but his position is under increasing pressure as United sit 16th in the Premier League and 20th in the Champions League standings.

Rooney said the squad had shown insufficient hunger and commitment, using the Bournemouth defeat as an example of what he believes has been an unacceptable attitude.

“The players haven’t got a leg to stand on,” Rooney said on the Stick to United podcast, which airs on Disney+. “What’s not fair is the performances they are giving.

“I looked at the fans, you could see the pain and anger in their faces when those players are walking around the football pitch. You see [Lisandro] Martinez when [Bournemouth forward] Rayan ran round him, they are not getting to the ball, it’s so frustrating.

“We are seeing players who are numb, look like they have got no emotion, look like they don’t care. Some of them might care, some good lads who are getting dragged down. It is so frustrating to watch.”

Rooney also questioned the make-up of the squad and suggested Carrick had inherited a team in need of significant changes.

“The squad is absolutely a million miles away,” he said. “The worst thing for Michael Carrick, he has given the board a bit of hope when in reality, they needed a big overhaul and have done for years.

“The midfield, spending that amount on those midfielders, is absolutely crazy. I feel for Michael, he has being let down, he hasn’t been good enough, but the players have let him down massively.”

The former Manchester United and England forward said he felt sympathy for Carrick, while making clear that he did not believe the manager was entirely without blame for the club’s performances.