Wayne Rooney asserts that Ruben Amorim should rely on a particular Manchester United player to instill leadership within the current team following their loss in the Manchester derby.
Amorim’s team faced a 3-0 defeat against Man City on Sunday, with Phil Foden scoring first, followed by two goals from Erling Haaland.
This outcome marks a disappointing beginning to the season for the Red Devils, who have managed to win only one of their four Premier League matches and have also experienced a humiliating exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Grimsby.
Rooney, the all-time leading scorer for Man United, pointed out the absence of leadership in the current squad and believes that Harry Maguire could help remedy this situation.
During an appearance on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, he expressed his confusion over Maguire’s exclusion from the starting lineup in league matches this season.
Amorim chose to field Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Luke Shaw in a back three at the Etihad, with Maguire entering the game as a substitute in the 62nd minute.
‘Harry should be starting,’ Rooney remarked. He referenced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s comments regarding how much England missed Harry Maguire during the Euros due to his leadership qualities.
‘As I sit there, I wonder why he is not playing alongside the three defenders currently on the pitch.
‘He ought to be included; there is a noticeable lack of leadership.’
Rooney echoed the sentiments of former Man United captain Roy Keane in questioning the passion displayed by his former team during the derby.
The match concluded without a yellow card being issued as Man United succumbed to defeat against their rivals.
‘At the Etihad, it is acceptable to lose that match, but I did not witness a single tackle – even when the score reached 2-0, then 3-0. I did not see anyone step up and say “I will not tolerate this” by taking a yellow card or making a tackle,’ Rooney stated.
‘That passion, that desire. It is an ongoing issue. I strive to remain as positive and supportive as possible towards the manager and the players, but it is quite challenging to assert that we are witnessing progress, or at least signs that will lead to results in the near future.
One positive aspect for Manchester United from the derby was the debut of Benjamin Sesko in the Premier League, as the high-profile summer acquisition continues to acclimate following his transfer from RB Leipzig.
Sesko, who was signed for £74 million, has had limited opportunities to score for his new team thus far and was substituted after 80 minutes at the Etihad.
Wayne Rooney expressed his sympathy for Sesko, suggesting that the 22-year-old is currently relying on hopeful balls into the box rather than receiving high-quality scoring chances.
‘The one positive I will find is they did put a lot of crosses into the box and did get into some really good areas,’ Rooney remarked.
‘Sesko didn’t really have many opportunities and appeared somewhat lacking in fitness, but I thought United managed to get into some promising positions. It seemed as though the crosses were being delivered merely for the sake of it.
‘What I will say for any centre forward, including Sesko, is that when this occurs, it becomes very challenging to time your run and attempt to connect with the ball.’
Manchester United will aim to bounce back from their recent disappointment when they visit Stamford Bridge next Saturday to take on Chelsea.
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