Wayne Rooney has criticised Manchester United’s lack of progress under manager Ruben Amorim, claiming the club has “got worse” since his arrival.
The United legend and all-time top scorer voiced his frustration after Sunday’s 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City — a result that left many travelling fans walking out of the Etihad long before the final whistle.
“I want to be as supportive and positive as I can be of the manager and the players,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds.
“But it is tough to sit here and say we are seeing progression. We’re seeing none of that, and it is very difficult.”
Rooney highlighted images of United supporters leaving the ground early, calling it “a powerful statement” of their disappointment.
“You could hear the fans singing Amorim’s name, but they were leaving the game. I think they were very disappointed in what they were seeing. It is hard to see how it continues,” he added.
Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag on November 1 last year, has spent nearly £250m reshaping the squad and installing his preferred 3-4-3 system. Despite the investment, United’s performances have not improved.
Last season, the club finished 15th with just 42 points — their worst league return since 1989–90, and their lowest tally since the relegation season of 1973–74.
Rooney believes the problems are repeating themselves:
“After Ten Hag was sacked, we were told things would change. If the manager is honest with himself, it has got worse.”
With pressure mounting, Amorim insists he will not change his tactical approach despite growing fan unrest. However, critics argue that United lack clear patterns of play, direction, or signs of improvement.
