Wayne Rooney has expressed concern over the leadership situation at Manchester United, stating that the current squad lacks a true captain, as the club struggles early in the 2024/25 season.
Rooney, who made the comments on The Overlap, reflected on the difference between the current crop of players and previous Manchester United teams, which he said were filled with multiple leaders.
“If you look at Manchester United now and compare them with the past, you’ve got five or six captains in every team. You look now, I don’t see one,” the former England international said.
United’s poor form has sparked growing concern, with just two wins from their opening seven Premier League matches. They currently sit 14th in the table with three losses and two draws. Their Europa League campaign has not fared better, with the Red Devils managing only two draws from two games, leaving them with just two points in the competition.
Rooney suggested that part of the problem lies in the players’ inability to handle the intense scrutiny and pressure that comes with representing Manchester United.
“For Manchester United, the pressure never goes away, and that’s down to the players’ mindset,” Rooney stated. “You play for Man United, you’re going to get criticised and praised. The issue is that I don’t think the players can deal with it.”
The current captain, Bruno Fernandes, took over the armband from Harry Maguire two seasons ago.
However, Rooney’s comments raise questions about the leadership structure at Old Trafford, as the club finds itself in one of its most challenging starts to a season in recent memory.