Rooney Calls Man Utd Players ‘Selfish Babies’ After Fernandes’ Criticism

Rooney Calls Man Utd Players ‘Selfish Babies’ After Fernandes’ Criticism Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has branded the club’s current players “selfish” and likened them to “babies” following captain Bruno Fernandes’ public criticism of manager Michael Carrick. Rooney’s outburst followed United’s disappointing 4-1 defeat to Italian side Como in the Champions League on Wednesday, a result that intensified scrutiny of Carrick and exposed growing tensions within the club. Fernandes questioned the manager’s tactics after the defeat, arguing that United needed to play with greater courage. His comments came days after defender Lisandro Martinez publicly criticised the club’s hierarchy over its investment in the squad. Speaking on The United Stand podcast on Thursday, Rooney expressed concern that the players’ public statements could further damage relationships within the dressing room. “When Martinez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart,” Rooney said. He added that Fernandes’ comments could encourage other players to speak out rather than accept responsibility for the team’s poor performances. “You can say whether Bruno was right or wrong in what he said, but you have to take responsibility on the pitch. You have to take responsibility as a group of players,” the former England international stated. Rooney, Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer, accused the squad of prioritising personal interests over the club, its supporters and coaching staff. “These players, they’re selfish. They don’t care about their team-mates, don’t care about the manager, the staff or the fans, they care about themselves,” he said. He further criticised players who publicly shift blame when results do not go their way, comparing their behaviour to children throwing tantrums. “If they’re not getting what’s right for them, they’re like babies and just throw their toys out of the pram and go and deflect the blame on to anyone else but themselves,” Rooney added. The former United captain said the growing public disagreements were particularly worrying because they threatened team unity at a time when the club needed collective responsibility to overcome its poor form. United have endured a difficult campaign, sitting 13th in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s encounter with Bournemouth. Their heavy defeat to Como has further increased pressure on Carrick, whose future has become a subject of debate among supporters and pundits. Rooney, who played alongside Carrick during their time at Old Trafford, has expressed concern about the direction of the club and called for greater accountability from the players. The latest controversy adds to the uncertainty surrounding United as they attempt to recover from a disappointing run of results and restore confidence among their supporters.