Man United lost 1-0 to Arsenal, making it the club's biggest home loss of the season. Wayne Rooney believes some United players are fit enough to play through injuries.Roy Keane and Paul Merson described United's performance as shocking
10:07, UK, Monday 13 May 2024
Wayne Rooney says he is “100 per cent” confident that some of Manchester United's injured players are fit enough to play, while manager Erik ten Hag takes “full responsibility” for the poor performance. “I will bear the burden.”
United lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal, suffering 10 injuries. super sundaeThis leaves the team languishing in eighth place, their lowest finish in Premier League history, and puts them at risk of missing out on European football altogether next season.
Under Ten Hag, United have lost 19 games in all competitions this season, the most since 1978-79, but Sunday's loss to the Gunners was their ninth at Old Trafford this season. The loss tied for the most at home in a season.
Asked if United's players were currently playing at The Hague, Rooney said: sky sports: “If that's the case, I don't think they've done it very well. The performance, and there are some good players in that team, is well below par.
“If you look at the injuries they've had, some of those players can play 100 percent.
“When the European Championship and the FA Cup final are coming up, it's easy for the players to take some time off from the game and come back for the final and make sure they're ready for the European Championship. I I've seen it myself over the years.
“The injured players are not getting any credit at the moment and the coach will take full responsibility for that.”
United manager Erik ten Hag is currently without first-team regulars Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount. , Tyrell Malasia and Anthony Martial are long-term absentees.
Scott McTominay returned to the starting lineup after injury on Sunday, but Ten Hag revealed earlier in the week that Argentina defender Martinez had been begging to play after recovering from a calf problem.
Manchester United declined to respond to Rooney's comments. sky sports news.
Keane: Not a good sign | Merson: 'Injury is no excuse'
In response to Rooney's claims, sky sports Pundit Roy Keane said: “That's not a good sign. You've got injured players who will be desperate to get back to playing football.”
“In every club there are always some players who are held back by a little bit of injury, but other players, obviously the players I played with, will try to alleviate that for a week or two. .”
“That's always a worry, but it's what happens at a lot of clubs. They lack confidence, they don't feel it and they don't rush back into the team.”
Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Paul Merson give their thoughts on Manchester United's terrible season and discuss whether Erik ten Hag is the right man to take the club forward
Former Arsenal midfielder Sky Sports” Paul Merson also weighed in, claiming that United are still not good enough to compete at the top level with or without the squad.
“There could be 10 or 11 players injured, but Luton also have 10 or 11 players injured. Chelsea have 10 or 11 players injured and the first-choice and club captain. But we also have big players like Reece James. And Chelsea are still going to finish at the top of the table,'' Merson said.
“Newcastle will come here this week and win. I don't care how many players will be fit next season. There's no way Manchester United will finish above Arsenal next season. They have no chance. They have 30 points. There is a difference.”
“There were 15 United staff members warming up the players. There were as many staff members as there were players. If I wanted to play, the physiotherapist wouldn't say I couldn't play.”
“I played over 700 football games. If I played 100 games with 100 percent performance, I would be shocked. I wanted to get injections, take pills, and play football. I didn't mean to listen to anyone else.'' I can't play. ”
Rooney: Manchester United should give Ten Hag more time
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains upbeat despite losing 1-0 to Arsenal and believes his team are still fighting to finish the season successfully.
To qualify for Europe next season, United must finish in the top seven and are level in the table with two matches remaining, three points behind Chelsea, but if they do not, United must finish at Wembley. They need to beat Manchester City in this month's FA Cup final.
Speaking after the match, Ten Hag said he was happy with the “attitude” and competitiveness his team showed against the title-chasing Gunners and believes United's supporters have their backs.
But Rooney believes some United players are “just trying to get to the end of the season”.
“I think the players need to look at themselves. It's a huge insult when a manager talks about attitudes and players not being fit to play for Manchester United. If you look at it, there’s no way I’m going to do that.’ Just keep riding until the end of the season,” Rooney said.
“I think some players are just trying to get to the end of the season. That's my opinion. So I feel for him, but it's his job to make sure the players are right. is.”
Asked what the result meant for Ten Hag's future, Rooney said: “When you're losing games as much as they are losing games, there are big questions asked.
“Personally I hope they give it to him. [Ten Hag] There are a lot of issues with recruitment and things haven't been great for the last few years.
“I hope he takes his time and does it right. But we saw that in 2016 when Louis van Gaal lost his job.” [after winning the FA Cup]so you never know.
Keane: United are so bad | Merson: Shocking display
Former United captain Keane criticized Ten Hag's attack for failing to make the most of their 14 shots on goal (three more than Arsenal) and 145 touches in the final third.
“The disappointment for me in the last 30 minutes was United. Arsenal have come to Old Trafford over the years and found it difficult, but Arsenal must have been in disbelief at how bad United were. No,” Keene said.
“Whatever possession they had, the end product or the lack of quality, we talk about the great teams United have had over the years and the players they've had. That 30 minutes. , making decisions, no one digs anyone out, makes mistakes, falls down, does not impose demands on each other.
Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney and Paul Merson look back at Arsenal's winning goal and how Manchester United's Casemiro played a big part in playing Kai Havertz onside
“That United team…is really bad.”
United entered the game without 10 injured players, but Merson believes Ten Hag's side can still improve.
“It was shocking,” Merson said of United's display. “We had 145 touches in the final third and two shots on target. One of them was Casemiro's shot from 40 yards, which I could have saved.”
“This is not enough. We can't afford to lose nine games at home. This is Manchester United.”
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