Wayne Rooney believes that Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim is now hindering the ability of two key first-team Manchester United players in the Premier League.
The 39-year-old legendary former Manchester United striker dropped his two cents on the major mistake that Ruben Amorim is now making at the Premier League club.
Wayne Rooney’s assessment came in the aftermath of United’s Premier League encounter against Brentford, which ended in a 3-1 defeat for the Red Devils.
Brentford hosted United at the Gtech Community Stadium and the Bees stunned the Red Devils in the first half after going 2-0 up in the opening 20 minutes of the tie.
Igor Thiago scored a stunning brace for Brentford on Saturday afternoon before summer signing Benjamin Sesko pulled one back for United in the 26th minute.
United were left chasing the Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium before Mathias Jensen netted for Brentford in second-half stoppage time.
Wayne Rooney singles out midfielders Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes after Man Utd’s Premier League loss to Brentford
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim was without Casemiro on Saturday afternoon due to the 33-year-old Brazilian midfielder serving a one-match ban.
Manuel Ugarte was brought into the United midfield alongside Bruno Fernandes because of Casemiro’s red card against Chelsea at Old Trafford earlier this month.
Amorim has preferred a midfield pivot of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the 2025-26 season, but Wayne Rooney has been deeply critical of the two-man partnership.
United legend Rooney has suggested that Fernandes and Casemiro are now simply unable to “compete” in the Premier League due to their roles under Amorim.
“If we go back to… I think week one of us doing this podcast, I said it,” he explained on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“I said the [Man Utd] midfield cannot compete in the Premier League. And that might sound strange because you’ve got Bruno Fernandes and you’ve got Casemiro.
“They cannot compete in this Premier League as a two. It doesn’t work. And as a coach, as a manager, as a player, the players will know that.
“Them [United] players will see that and understand that. And as a manager, you have to be adaptable. You have to change.”
Wayne Rooney’s clear-cut advice to Ruben Amorim after what he saw from Man Utd against Brentford
Bruno Fernandes has been sacrificed to a deeper role in Amorim’s tactical system for United after the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the summer.
The 31-year-old United captain has excelled in an attacking role in the Red Devils’ set-up, but Fernandes’ influence has waned in the current season under Amorim.
Rooney insisted that Amorim cannot be “stubborn” with his tactical system and the United manager must show a willingness to adapt with his approach for matches.
“We seen it with Wolves last night [against Tottenham],” he continued.
“They changed the system, they go and get a point to Tottenham. You have to be ready for whatever happens in the game.
“And if you’re stubborn and you sit there and you go, ‘Right, this is it. This is our system.’ Before you know it, you’ll be gone and the club will change.”
United are currently 14th in the Premier League table under Amorim and the Red Devils have lost three of their opening six league matches in the 2025-26 season.
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