Jose Mourinho is an ‘easy target’ and Manchester United players need to stand up, insists Wayne Rooney
The Portuguese is under huge pressure after clashing with the club's board and his players
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Your support makes all the difference.Wayne Rooney believes Jose Mourinho is an “easy target” for criticism and insists Manchester United players must take a share of the blame for the team’s problems this season.
United are seven points adrift of the Premier League leaders after losing three of their first eight games, and Mourinho’s public tensions with both the club hierarchy and a number of key players in his squad – most notably star midfielder Paul Pogba – have thrown his future into serious doubt.
The Independent reported on Monday that the United board will meet this week with club executives split on whether the Mourinho situation is fundamentally broken, as well as the prospect of former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane succeeding him in charge at Old Trafford.
Rooney, however, believes United’s players have a responsibility to take some of the pressure off Mourinho by performing on the pitch with more of the spirit displayed in Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford.
“It's tough [at United], it has been a tough situation,” Rooney told The Telegraph after scoring both of DC United’s goals in a 2-1 win over Chicago Fire on Sunday.
“The players, the manager, it has been a tough start to the season. I know Jose is getting a load of stick but I said a few weeks ago, the players have to stand up.
“They have to be counted and they have to be better. The manager can do so much but then it is down to the players on the pitch to produce and probably collectively.
“It [the poor run of form] is a bit of everything coming together but Jose is an easy target. Some of the players have to be better.”
Rooney experienced a similarly difficult situation during Louis Van Gaal’s final months in charge of United in the 2015-16 season, and says he used his position as club captain to stress to his teammates the importance of taking responsibility for their own performances in matches.
“I said the same thing when Louis van Gaal was there,” the striker added. “He took a lot of stick but behind closed doors I said to the players, 'We have to be doing better'.
“Personally I think he [Van Gaal] set us up brilliantly the way but we didn't produce on the pitch so I am sure that is getting said behind the scenes.”
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