Wayne Rooney says Mauricio Pochettino is his preferred choice as Manchester United manager

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Wayne Rooney has been speaking to Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football about Manchester United.

Rooney spoke on United’s poor season, the next manager, and the players he believes the club can build around.

Rooney on United’s season

Rooney said: “I think they’d want the season to stop now. Forget about Champions League, they’re not going to compete next year if they qualify for it.”

Rooney on the manager

Faced with a choice between top candidates Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino, Rooney said he would opt for the latter.

Rooney said: “”I think Pochettino has done it in the Premier League, he knows the Premier League, at Tottenham he brought a lot of young players through, and Southampton as well.

“If I’m choosing from one of them two, I’d go Pochettino.”

“There hasn’t been a settled manager there since Sir Alex Ferguson. Whoever comes in, give them time, to build relationships with players.”

Rooney on Ronaldo

Speaking on his former teammate he admitted the decision to re-sign the superstar had not really worked.

He added: “He’s a goal threat but the rest of the game they need more, they need young hungry players.”

Rooney on Paul Pogba

“I watch him play for France and he’s a completely different player. His vision, his control of the game, is there every game. It hasn’t quite worked at Manchester United.

“It’s got to a point now that it’s better to move on. If Paul is honest with himself, he’s not had the impact he would have liked at Manchester United.”

Rooney on players United can build around

Rooney said he backs Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho to play a key role in the future. Asked who United can build around, he said: “Sancho will be better, Marcus will be better.”

He also said he believed Jesse Lingard should be playing more than he is, and also mentioned he likes what Scott McTominay brings to the team.

Rooney has separately spoken of his desire to manage the club in the future, telling The Sun the reason he got into management was so he could take charge at United in the future.

Rooney is United’s all-time record goalscorer, breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record in 2017.