Erik ten Hag: Wayne Rooney backs Manchester United manager despite horrendous start to the season | OneFootball

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Wayne Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time top scorer, shared his views on the club’s current struggles and the challenges Erik ten Hag faces.

United currently sit in 14th place in the Premier League, a situation Rooney admits is far from where the club needs to be.

Reflecting on the team’s state, Rooney remarked, “Manchester United want to be challenging for titles… I’m sure everyone at the football club knows they need to improve.”

He highlighted the ongoing difficulties, emphasizing that the players must perform better. While there has been a significant turnover of personnel in recent years, consistency is lacking.

Rooney was quick to defend Erik ten Hag, describing the Dutchman as “a fantastic manager” who has won trophies throughout his career, including at United.

He acknowledged that Ten Hag is going through a “difficult period” but remained hopeful that the manager can steer the club out of this slump.

“Too often managers lose their jobs, and then it’s another rebuild with a different manager,” Rooney added, stressing the need for stability at the club.

The former United captain also hinted at the immense pressure surrounding Old Trafford, explaining how results at United tend to swing from extremes—either very high or very low.

However, Rooney remains optimistic, urging the players to stick to the basics and work hard.

“When you’re going through a difficult period, try not to do too much… the minimum you want is to work hard and fight your way through.” For Rooney, effort and commitment should be the baseline, and United’s stars have fallen short.

The Man United legend’s words are a reminder that the club’s glory days were built on hard work and a never-say-die attitude.

With Ten Hag under pressure, Rooney has pointed the finger at those wearing the shirt, urging them to meet the demands of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs.

Play for free to win the new United kit! We’re awarding a new prize every PL matchweek, courtesy of Goat Kits! To play, just (1) Join this week’s brand new PL Challenge league here with our league code puu1tk and enter your team. (2) Follow The Peoples Person on X and answer the tie breaker question. Full instructions and rules here. You can also visit Goat Kits at goatkitstore.com and use discount code TPP30 to get 30% off your first purchase!