Wayne Rooney pinpoints one piece of Manchester United's 'identity' that Erik ten Hag's side is missing
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Wayne Rooney believes ‘a good core of British players’ is missing from the current Manchester United team.
Embattled boss Erik ten Hag has overseen United’s worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign after seven games with just eight points gained.
In fact, the Dutchman broke his own undesired record of nine points from last season.
However, a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday looks to have given Ten Hag a stay of execution.
The dour displays in recent years is a far cry from the days when Rooney was at the club under Sir Alex Ferguson‘s leadership.
During Ferguson’s reign, United never finished lower than third in the Premier League era.
But since his retirement in 2013, the Red Devils have not won the league.
Now an observer from the outside, Rooney conceded it is ‘difficult’ to hone in on what the club has been missing and that the constant chopping and changing of managers has not helped.
However, there is one key element from United’s decades of success under Ferguson that Rooney has noted is absent and would be a big help to the under-fire Ten Hag.
“I think for everyone who wants Manchester United to do well, it’s been frustrating,” Rooney told Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive.
“Manchester United are 14th in the Premier League, it’s not where they want to be. I think what United have done in the last few years, they’ve changed the managers and they’ve tried to go with a new manager and try and rebuild, but whatever one they’ve brought in hasn’t quite worked.
“Erik ten Hag, he’s an experienced manager, I know he’s trying extremely hard to get it right.
“I think the culture of the football club is… we’ve seen a lot of players who are coming in, a lot of foreign players. I think Manchester United’s identity was always a good core of British players and I think that’s maybe missing a little bit, so players who can control the dressing room and help the manager out when they’re going through a difficult period.
“So I think that’s a big change, if you like, from what I’ve seen over the last few years, but we hope Ten Hag can turn it around and get them back challenging.”
In United’s starting line-up against Aston Villa, there were four players from the UK: Jonny Evans, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo.
Other senior British players within United’s squad include Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Tom Heaton.
However, with Shaw and Mount dealing with their own injury woes and Heaton the third-choice goalkeeper, they are unlikely to have the desired impact on the squad.
It is a stark contrast from when Rooney was at the club as stars including Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes, to name four, were not just brilliant players but big characters in the dressing room and trusted lieutenants of Ferguson.
Despite the squad’s struggles in the league, Ten Hag has been able to deliver a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup in his two seasons in charge, a fact he likes to remind critics.
However, the Red Devils have trended downwards in the league, going from fourth to eighth, with last season United’s worst ever finish in the Premier League.
Although winning cups is ‘great’, Rooney insisted the league must remain the priority.
“I think your season is the Premier League,” Rooney said.
“That’s what we always looked at. Then you had the FA Cup, the Champions League, the League Cup.
“But there’s no better feeling than winning the Premier League. That’s what you’re working all season for. Cups, you can win, which is great. It’s a great feeling, great for the fans.
“But as a fan, you want to see United consistently challenging.”
Rooney also pointed to Liverpool‘s lengthy league title drought, which lasted a whopping 30 years, as something to be wary about when it comes to the club’s expectations.
“I think United have gone quite a few years now without doing that (winning the league),” Rooney said.
“So it’s important that you don’t keep letting that carry on and slide and then end up happy with winning the League Cup or FA Cup.
“Manchester United is bigger than that, it’s such a huge football club and in my opinion, has to be challenging every year.”
So, how far away does Rooney believe United are capable of challenging for the Premier League title again?
“A long way away at the minute,” Rooney said.
However, the sweeping changes made at United in the summer has the club’s all-time leading goalscorer feeling optimistic.
“I think bringing the new owners in, Jim Ratcliffe and [sporting director] Dan Ashworth, they’ve got a good group of people in there, I believe,” Rooney said.
“I think, slowly but surely, there’s changes happening at the football club. I was there last week and seeing the changes happening at the training ground.
“You know, you’re seeing small changes which eventually help the football club and, you know, you hope they get it right and I think recruitment is massive and they’ve brought some good men in to help with that.”
