'I'm sure he is a fantastic manager' Wayne Rooney expresses his belief in Erik Ten Hag and expects a turnaround

Wayne Rooney emphasized the need for improvement among Manchester United's players while expressing his support for the team's manager, Erik ten Hag. 

Rooney, who scored 253 goals in 559 games for United, acknowledged the challenges of seeing his former team in 14th place this season. He expressed optimism in manager Ten Hag's ability to reverse their fortunes, while also pointing out areas where the Red Devils' squad can enhance their performance.

Rooney's take on the Erik Ten Hag 

He believes it's the responsibility of the football club's owners to evaluate the coaching staff. He holds Erik Ten Hag in high regard as a manager with a strong track record of winning trophies, including at Manchester United. Acknowledging that Ten Hag is currently facing challenges, he hopes that the situation can be turned around, as frequent managerial changes often lead to disruptive rebuilding processes. Rooney recognizes the difficulty of the situation and emphasizes the club's ambition to compete for titles, expressing the need for improvement given the current 14th place position. He commends Erik Ten Hag's efforts to address these challenges, noting the significant turnover of players in recent years.

Rooney told Sky Sports: “Well that’s obviously down to the owners of the football club to look at that. I’m sure Erik Ten Hag is a fantastic manager. He’s won trophies wherever he’s been and won trophies at Manchester United as well. So yes, he’s going through a difficult period and I think he’d probably say that himself. But you hope he can turn it around because too often managers lose their jobs and then it’s another rebuild with a different manager. I think it’s difficult and anyone would admit that Manchester United want to be challenging for titles, so to be 14th, I’m sure everyone at the club knows they need to improve on that. I know Erik Ten Hag is doing everything he can to try and improve that. Players again, and I said this last season, need to do better than what they’re doing. There’s a big turnaround of players over the last few years. You just want to see them challenging again.”

Worst Start to the Season for United

United have faced significant challenges in the current Premier League season, securing only eight points in seven games in 2024/25. There is mounting pressure on Ten Hag to turn things around, as the team's performance has not met expectations. The short-term outlook appears challenging, but with concerted efforts, there is potential for improvement. However, if results do not improve in the near future, it is possible that the former Ajax boss may face a departure from Old Trafford.