Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker were left bemused by Wayne Rooney’s claims the Man Utd players are not doing enough, saying the current climate is not helping
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have disagreed with Wayne Rooney‘s harsh criticism of Manchester United‘s players following their poor start to the season. The Red Devils’ 3-1 defeat at Brentford, masterminded by Ruben Amorim, left them languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.
This was their third loss in six matches, completely draining the momentum built up from a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at home. Rooney didn’t hold back in his critique of the current squad, claiming many players were not worthy of wearing the United shirt.
However, football pundits Lineker and Shearer weren’t entirely in agreement with the former England and United captain.
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Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker began by saying: “I heard Wayne Rooney the other day being very critical of the players at Manchester United, saying they’re not doing enough.
“I don’t know, I just think when a club’s in turmoil or when it’s a bit rotten that it’s not necessarily just about the players’ attitudes. No one ever steps out onto a football pitch without total commitment. I mean, it’s very, very rare.”
Shearer agreed with his former Match of the Day colleague, adding: “It’s been a tough environment to play at Manchester United for the last few years, and clearly now it’s a tough place to go out and play. Even more so now I guess with what’s going on.
“You hear the manager week in, week out, it’s the same old, this, this and this, and nothing is changing. It’s a tough place to play at the minute that ground, and the evidence suggests that, as you say, when anyone ever leaves they go on to do really well.
“I mean, McTominay, Hojlund, Antony, Rashford– I guess Sancho hasn’t, but the majority of the players that go out, and whether they leave permanently or whether they’re on loan, they seem to go and shine, don’t they?”
On his BBC podcast, Rooney had said: “This is not Man United. I don’t recognise the whole football club. I don’t see players fighting. I don’t see character. I don’t see a desire to win. I don’t see ability. I don’t see match winners.
“Nothing gets me off my feet. I go into a game watching, expecting, ‘Okay, here we go again,’ expecting the team to lose or maybe pick up a point. This is not Man United.
He continued: “I was at the football club for 13 years, and what is going on is not right. And this is not all on the manager, by the way. I’m seeing players, they’re not deserving to wear that shirt, and it hurts.
“When you’ve been at a football club for that long and you care for the club, this is not acceptable what is going on. Man United haven’t won back-to-back games for I don’t know how long.”
While acknowledging the players bear some responsibility, Shearer and Lineker weren’t quite as harsh as Rooney in their assessment.
United are set to face Sunderland at Old Trafford in what could be another tricky match for Amorim’s squad.
Despite being the new kids on the block, the Black Cats are tipped by some as slight favourites, having climbed to fifth place after notching up three wins, two draws and just one defeat in their opening six Premier League games.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
