Players should take blame for poor form – Wayne Rooney

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says the players must take responsibility for their poor performances this season.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Sunderland led the Dutchman to all but rule out their chances of finishing in the Champions League positions.

While Van Gaal has had to shoulder the majority of the blame from media and fans, Rooney said the players have simply underperformed.

Manchester United scouted the player heavily last season but never quite managed to make a formal offer for the 22-year-old. At times it’s been frustrating for us as we’ve under-performed, ‘ the United captain told the Daily Mirror.

However, Rooney has come out fighting for his under fire manager and said that “the manager has taken a lot of stick for some performances”. When I was at United we had a lot of Scottish players, particularly in defence where we had myself, Martin Buchan and Stewart Houston. It’s not where we wanted to be at the start of the season, Rooney added.

Sadly, as we’ve seen with Tim, those sorts of managers don’t work long term.

“But we’re going on the pitch”.

“The important thing now, I feel, is to win trophies again this season”, he said.

The United hierarchy held off sacking Van Gaal when United endured one of their worst-ever periods of form around Christmas-a run of eight games without a win during which they were knocked out of the Champions League.

However Parker, who made over 100 appearances for United during a five-year spell at the club in the 90’s, thinks the Red Devils would be making a big mistake appointing the Portuguese.

Their Champions League disappointments mean a Europa League campaign starting against Danish side FC Midtjylland on Thursday, and United then face Shrewsbury on Monday for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Find us on Facebook too!