Rooney accuses 'selfish' United players of acting 'like babies' after 4-1 Como humiliation

Wayne Rooney has accused Manchester United’s players of acting “like babies” and called out Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez by name, urging both to look at themselves in the mirror after United’s 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como on Wednesday.

Speaking on The United Stand podcast, the club’s all-time record scorer did not hold back, describing the current squad as selfish and unwilling to accept accountability. The loss to Como deepened the scrutiny on manager Michael Carrick, with Fernandes publicly criticising the game plan in Italy shortly after Martinez had directed blame at sporting director Jason Wilcox the previous week.

“When Martinez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart,” Rooney said. “That was the start. We’ve seen it now with Bruno and you’re going to see it with more players. The reason why is because them players don’t want to take responsibility.”

Rooney drew on his own experience under Sir Alex Ferguson to illustrate what he believes is missing at Old Trafford. “There were times when me and Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t talk, but I’d run through a brick wall for him on the pitch,” he said. “These players, they’re selfish. They care about themselves, they don’t care about their team-mates, don’t care about the manager, about the staff or the fans.”

He was particularly pointed in his assessment of Fernandes, who he suggested is using external pressure to mask his own dip in form. “Bruno, he’s having probably the worst run of form he’s had since he’s been at the club and again, it’s no coincidence he’s putting pressure on someone else because he doesn’t want to face it,” Rooney said. “If he looks at himself in the mirror, if Martinez looks at himself in the mirror, all the players… they’ll find what is looking back at them is them and it’s not good enough.”

Rooney also called on the United board to provide clarity over Carrick’s future, suggesting the uncertainty surrounding the manager’s position is compounding an already fractured atmosphere within the squad.