Wayne Rooney believes some Man Utd players are hiding behind injuries and are ‘100 per cent’ fit to play | Football News
Man Utd were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal, meaning the club lost the most home games in a season in its history; Wayne Rooney believes some United players are hiding behind injuries and are fit to play; Roy Keane and Paul Merson described United’s display as shocking
10:07am UK, Monday 13th May 2024
Wayne Rooney says he is “100 per cent” convinced that some of Manchester United’s injured players are fit to play, leaving manager Erik ten Hag “taking all the blame” for poor performances.
United had 10 players injured in the 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal in Super Sundaywhich leaves them rooted to eighth place, on course for their worst-ever Premier League result and at risk of missing out on European football altogether next season.
Under Ten Hag this season, United have lost 19 games in all competitions, the most since 1978-79, while Sunday’s defeat to the Gunners was their ninth defeat at Old Trafford this season, the biggest home defeat in a season .
Asked whether United players are currently playing for Ten Hag, Rooney said Celestial sports: “If they are, I don’t think they’re showing it very well. The performances, and there are some good players in this squad, are well below average.
“When we look at the injuries they picked up, some of these players can play 100 percent.
“When the European Championship is coming up and an FA Cup final is coming up, it’s easy for players to get a little bit out of it, come back for the final and make sure they’re ready for the European Championship. myself over the years.
“The injured players are not getting any credit at this point. The coach will take the full brunt of this.”
United manager Erik ten Hag is currently without regular starters Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, while Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial are long-term absentees .
Scott McTominay returned to the starting line-up on Sunday after injury, while Ten Hag revealed earlier in the week that Argentine defender Martinez was begging to play after recovering from a calf problem.
Manchester United declined to respond to Rooney’s comments when contacted by Sky Sports News.
Keane: Not a good sign | Merson: Injuries are no excuse
Responding to Rooney’s claims, Celestial sports analyst Roy Keane said: “This is not a good sign. You expect players who are injured to be desperate to get back to playing football.
“There are always some players at each club who drag on due to some injuries. But other players, certainly the ones I played with, will try to get a week or two out of it.
“That’s always a concern, but that happens at a lot of clubs, where they have a lack of confidence and they’re out, and they’re not in a rush to get back into the team.”
Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Paul Merson give their views on Manchester Utd’s terrible season and discuss whether Erik ten Hag is the right person to take the club forward
Former Arsenal midfielder and Celestial Sports’ Paul Merson also joined the debate, insisting that United are still not good enough to compete at the highest level, with or without an in-form squad.
“You could have 10 or 11 injuries, Luton had 10 or 11 injuries. Chelsea had 10 or 11 injuries, big players like Reece James, who is first choice and the club captain. them,” Merson said.
“Newcastle will come here and win this week. I don’t care how many of them come into form next season, there is no way Manchester United will finish above Arsenal next season.
“There were 15 United staff warming up the players – as many staff as players. If I want to play, the physiotherapist won’t tell me I won’t play.
“I played more than 700 games of football. If I played 100 games at 100 percent, I would be shocked. I was taking injections, taking pills, I wanted to play football. I wasn’t going to hear someone else tell me I can’t play.”
Rooney: Man Utd should give Ten Hag time
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remained upbeat despite the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal and believes his team are still fighting for a successful end to the campaign.
To qualify for Europe next season, United must finish in the top seven – and are three points behind Chelsea in this position with just two rounds to go – or beat Manchester City in this month’s FA Cup final, at Wembley.
After the game, Ten Hag was pleased with the “attitude” and competitiveness his side showed against the title-challenging Gunners – and believes the United fans are behind them.
But Rooney believes some United players are “just trying to get to the end of the season”.
“I think players have to look at themselves, when you have a manager talking about attitudes and players who are not right about playing for Manchester United, that is a huge insult. let it go on and on until the end of the season,” Rooney said.
“I think some players are just trying to get to the end of the season, that’s my opinion. I feel for him, but it’s his job to make sure the players are right.”
Asked what this result means for Lt Hag’s future, Rooney added: “When you’re losing games the way they’re losing, big questions are going to be asked.
“I personally hope they give you [Ten Hag] time, there are a lot of problems with recruitment, it hasn’t been good for a few years.
“I hope he has time to do this right. But we saw this in 2016 when Louis van Gaal lost his job [after winning the FA Cup]So you never know.”
Keane: United so badly | Merson: A shocking display
When discussing the result, former United captain Keane criticized Ten Hag’s attack, which failed to make the most of 14 shots – three more than Arsenal – and 145 touches in the final third.
“The disappointment for me in the last half hour was United. Arsenal have come to Old Trafford over the years and found it difficult, but I bet Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad United were,” said Keane.
“Whatever possession they had, the end product and the lack of quality – you talk about the great teams United have had over the years, the players they have had. making mistakes, falling, not demanding of each other.
Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney and Paul Merson reflect on Arsenal’s winning goal and how Manchester United’s Casemiro played an important role in deploying Kai Havertz at full-back
“That United team over there… they’re so bad.”
United went into the game with 10 injured players missing – but Merson believes Ten Hag’s side should still be better.
“It was shocking,” Merson said of United’s display. “They only had 145 touches in the final third and two shots on goal. One was from Casemiro from 40 meters that I could have saved.
“It’s not good enough, you can’t lose nine games at home, this is Manchester United.”
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