Rooney says Man Utd have 'got worse' under Ruben Amorim

Wayne Rooney said Manchester United have “got worse” under manager Ruben Amorim after their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, arguing the team shows little sign of progression more than 10 months into the Portuguese coach’s tenure.

Amorim was appointed on Nov. 1, 2024, to replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked in October 2024. United sit 14th in the Premier League — the same position they occupied when Ten Hag was dismissed — and Rooney said the club’s performances do not indicate improvement.

"I want to be as supportive and positive as I can be on the manager and the players," Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds. "But it is very difficult to sit here and say we are seeing progression, and at least we're seeing things that will get results in the near future. We're seeing none of that, and it is very difficult." He added that seeing United fans leave the derby early, despite some chanting Amorim’s name, underlined supporters’ disappointment.

United finished 15th in the Premier League last season with 42 points — their lowest top-flight position since 1989–90 and their fewest points in a top-flight campaign since 1973–74. Since Amorim’s arrival the club have spent roughly £250 million on new signings and moved on most of the so-called "bomb squad," enabling the manager to switch the side to a 3-4-3 system he has said he will not abandon after past success at Sporting.

But many of last season’s issues have re-emerged. United were beaten 3-0 by local rivals City in the derby and suffered a shock Carabao Cup exit to League Two Grimsby early in the 2025–26 campaign. They have scored two goals from open play this season and taken four points from their opening four league fixtures, United’s poorest start at this stage since the 1992–93 season under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rooney, who scored 253 goals for United between 2004 and 2017, questioned tactical choices in the 3-4-3 system, particularly the use of two central midfielders when opponents field three. "The problem with this [3-4-3] system is having two in [central] midfield," he said. "The players have not got the energy and legs to cover the full width of the pitch and go up and down. They're getting overrun and overpowered in that midfield. If you're struggling, you have to put three in midfield and give yourself a chance to compete."

Statistically, Amorim’s record since taking charge offers little comfort to supporters. His win rate across all competitions stands at about 36 percent, the lowest for any permanent United manager since World War II, and his league win rate is approximately 26 percent. Of the 17 clubs that have been in the Premier League continuously since Amorim’s appointment, United and Tottenham have the lowest returns, with 31 points from 31 matches.

Club officials declined immediate comment after the derby defeat. Amorim has repeatedly defended his methods and the 3-4-3 shape, arguing continuity is necessary to implement his style; supporters and former players, however, have expressed growing concern that results are not matching expectations.

Rooney said managers must balance introducing a new style with securing results. "What is important when you're trying to implement a new style is you win games as well while you're doing that," he said. "Quite a lot of league seasons that is relegation form. What are the patterns? What are we seeing that might improve the team moving forward?"

United face a sequence of fixtures that will be closely watched by supporters and pundits as they seek to arrest the slide. The club’s transfer spending and squad overhaul have set high expectations for a quick turnaround; the early part of the 2025–26 season has so far failed to deliver the progress many expected, leaving questions over whether Amorim can reverse the decline.

Rooney’s comments add to mounting public scrutiny of the manager’s approach, and the coming weeks will likely determine whether results and performances begin to match United’s investment and ambitions.