Wayne Rooney has dropped his clear-cut assessment of Manchester United’s hard-fought win over Chelsea in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea were reduced to 10 men apiece during Saturday’s 2-1 result, with Ruben Amorim’s men walking away with all three points.
The Blues were reduced to 10 men after Robert Sanchez was sent off and United were dominant against Chelsea in the first half of the Premier League clash.
Bruno Fernandes netted United’s first-half opener in the 14th minute before Casemiro headed home the second in the 37th minute against Chelsea.
However, Chelsea were handed a lifeline opportunity at Old Trafford on Saturday after Casemiro picked up two bookings and was sent off before half-time.
Wayne Rooney’s ‘worry’ for Man Utd during the Premier League clash against Chelsea at Old Trafford
Manchester United weathered the storm after being reduced to 10 men, but the Red Devils did endure a nail-biting experience towards the end of Saturday’s match.
Trevoh Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea against 10-man United in the 80th minute and the Red Devils had to defend for dear life to ensure all three points.
Wayne Rooney has now admitted that he was “worried” that United could become complacent after Robert Sanchez was dismissed and squander their advantage.
“Do you know what? I thought even with 11 men, I thought they [United] started the game really well and caused Chelsea problems,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“And then when Chelsea went to 10 men, I was worried. I was. I was thinking, ‘Oh, it’s just like United now to go and lose the game.’
“And then I think that would have brought a whole lot of more pressure on the manager [Ruben Amorim].
“But I thought they played really well, first half and then second half. It’s silly. It’s naive from Casemiro.
“As soon as he got his yellow card, I was watching it in the BBC Studios with Danny Murphy and I said, ‘I’d take him off. He’s going to get sent off.’
Wayne Rooney deeply admired what all Man Utd players produced at Old Trafford in the 2-1 win over Chelsea in the Premier League
Ruben Amorim chalked up his second win for United in the 2025-26 Premier League season and the Red Devils are 11th in the table after their opening five matches.
Speaking on United’s display, Rooney was impressed with how all of the players showed their “discipline” in the second half after Casemiro’s first-half red card.
“He [Amorim] just knew what was going to happen [with Casemiro getting a second booking] and it could have cost us in the end, and I think what I liked in the second half was the discipline from United,” he continued.
“You know, they defended well and kept the ball in front of them and Chelsea were poor.”
The England and United legend added: “I thought Chelsea [were] slow and moving the ball side to side, but not really trying to penetrate.
“The only two crosses they put in the box [were] the one for the goal and one late on [that] caused another big chance.
“But I think you have to praise Man United; I thought in them conditions as well. Showed a lot of discipline and that’s a huge win.”
United will now play their final match in September at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, with the Red Devils facing Brentford at 12:30pm UK time.
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