Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has dropped his verdict on Erik ten Hag’s struggles at Old Trafford after the club’s poor start to the season.
Erik ten Hag’s men are 14th in the Premier League table and have only managed two wins in the opening seven league matches in the 2024-25 campaign.
Manchester United played out a 0-0 Premier League draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday ahead of the October international break.
Ten Hag, who inked a new deal with United in the summer, has come under scathing criticism over the Red Devils’ lacklustre season so far.
Speculation has continued to intensify over the 54-year-old Dutchman’s long-term future at Old Trafford amid United’s run of form and results.
Rooney on Man Utd and Premier League
Erik ten Hag faces mounting pressure to turn things around at Old Trafford after Manchester United collected eight points from a possible 21 Premier League points.
The United manager has also faced a headache on the Europa League front as well, with the Red Devils dropping valuable points in the European campaign.
The Red Devils blew a 1-0 lead at Old Trafford last month against FC Twente to draw 1-1 in their Europa League opener before slipping up against Porto.
United would secure a point against Porto last week in a 3-3 draw in Portugal, despite initially leading 2-0 at the Estadio do Dragao in the opening 20 minutes.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Wayne Rooney admitted that even he has been ‘frustrated’ with United’s run of form in the Premier League under Ten Hag.
“I think for everyone who wants Manchester United to do well, it’s been frustrating,” he said.
“Manchester United are 14th in the Premier League, it’s not where they want to be.
“I think what United have done in the last few years, they’ve changed the managers and they’ve tried to go with a new manager and try and rebuild, but whatever one they’ve brought in hasn’t quite worked.”
Rooney on Ten Hag and missing aspect
Rooney admitted that Ten Hag is “trying extremely hard” to turn the tide back in United’s favour after the disappointing season so far.
However, the 38-year-old Plymouth Argyle manager insisted that the “culture of the football club” has been lacking amid the different players at the club.
Rooney believes a key part of United’s identity was the “core” of British players that the Red Devils had, which ex-manager Sir Alex Ferguson maintained in his squads.
“Erik ten Hag, he’s an experienced manager, I know he’s trying extremely hard to get it right,” he continued.
“I think the culture of the football club is… we’ve seen a lot of players who are coming in, a lot of foreign players.
“I think Manchester United’s identity was always a good core of British players and I think that’s maybe missing a little bit, so players who can control the dressing room and help the manager out when they’re going through a difficult period.
“So, I think that’s a big change, if you like, from what I’ve seen over the last few years, but we hope Ten Hag can turn it around and get them back challenging.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
