Advertisement
Rooney questions Manchester United’s squad strength after slow start
23rd September, 2026 04:29 PM
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has criticised the depth of the current squad, saying the club should have done more business before the summer transfer window closed.
United have endured a difficult beginning to the Premier League campaign, recording only one victory from their first five matches despite adding Youri Tielemans, Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos to their squad.
Their latest setback came at Fulham, where they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. The result left Michael Carrick’s side 12th in the Premier League standings as the competition paused for the international break.
Pressure on Carrick
Rooney believes the pressure on Carrick is inevitable given United’s poor results.
“There’s always going to be pressure; Michael knows that,” Rooney told talkSPORT.
“If you’re not winning football games at Man United, then that pressure is there if you don’t win one game. So, it hasn’t been the ideal start to the season. There are certain things which I felt the club had to do before the window shut, in bringing players in. The squad is a bit weak.”
The former United captain also urged Carrick to find a way to improve the performances of the players already at his disposal when domestic football resumes.
“He’s got to find a way to get more and the best out of these players to get up the table after this international break. I think the break has come at the right time. He’s shown that he can get results out of this group of players. They have to get their head down and work and hopefully get some better results,” he said.
Strengthening squad
Rooney acknowledged that Carrick would have preferred to strengthen the squad further during the transfer window but must now work with the players available to him.
“He [Carrick] knows what’s in for there and listen, you always want more as a manager, I’m sure he would have wanted more from the transfer window, but he’s left with what he’s left with,” Rooney said
“I think the Premier League has got better; there are better teams in there. But if you don’t win at Man United, or at any club, at the minute it’s very tough, so I hope he turns it around.”
Carrick will therefore face pressure to improve United’s fortunes when the Premier League resumes, with Rooney stressing the need for the team to produce better results and climb the table.
