Wayne Rooney slams Manchester United players for the lack of fight in Etihad humiliation
Manchester City registered a 3-0 one-sided win over Manchester United in the Premier League derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. City controlled the match right from the start, and Phil Foden scored the first goal in the 18th minute to give them the lead. After this, in the second half, Erling Haaland scored two consecutive goals in the 53rd and 68th minutes to put the match completely beyond United. Haaland’s second goal came after United lost the ball in their own half, and he finished clinically to make it 3-0.
In this match, City’s new goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, also made his debut in the Premier League and made an important save by stopping Bryan Mbeumo’s powerful volley at a score of 2-0. On the other hand, United looked disorganised from the start, as the team could neither gain momentum in midfield nor create any clear chance in attack.
This result marks United’s worst start since 1992. After the defeat, Wayne Rooney also questioned the mentality of the players and said that no one even tried to show enthusiasm or commit a foul on the field. This criticism has increased the pressure on the team even more.
“At the Etihad, you can lose that game, but I didn’t see a tackle – even when I go to 2-0, 3-0. I didn’t see anyone say, “Do you know what, I’m not having this”, and take a yellow card or put a tackle in.
That passion, that desire. It’s continuing and continuing. I want to be as positive and supportive as I can be of the manager and the players, but it’s very difficult to sit here and say we’re seeing a progression, at least we’re seeing things that will get results in the near future.”
Via: Daily Mail
Amorim’s difficulties and United’s stagnation:
Manchester United’s current problems are not limited to their performance on the field; they are also linked to Ruben Amorim’s strategy and the compatibility of the players. Amorim has stuck to his 3-4-2-1 system, which was successful at Sporting CP, but this structure is proving to be unbalanced for the Premier League and United’s current team. Critics believe that this system puts more burden on the wide centre-backs and leaves two midfielders exposed to the opposition’s pressure, which keeps revealing United’s weaknesses.
Although the club signed players like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in the summer, they have not fully adapted to Amorim’s style. The question is whether the current squad has the balance Amorim needs to make his system a success. Confidence in his tactics appears to be waning in the dressing room, and a string of defeats is making the situation even more difficult. Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Brighton have demanded €120 million for Carlos Baleba and United are willing to pay it, while Adam Wharton now appears to be leaning towards Liverpool, with Real Madrid also in the race. This leaves Amorim with even fewer options to find solutions.
The reality is that both Amorim’s stubbornness and the club’s recruitment policy have become the root of the problems. Over the years, Manchester United have spent heavily on the wrong players at the wrong times, and that has left the squad lacking balance. So the question is not how long Amorim will stay, but how long the manager will keep sticking to his current plans, and the players will not adapt to it seriously!