Wayne Rooney has praised Erik ten Hag as a “fantastic manager” and expressed hope that the Dutchman can turn his fortunes around at Manchester United, Soccernet.football reports.
Speculation surrounding Ten Hag’s future at the club has intensified in recent weeks, with the Red Devils enduring their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
Despite spending around £180 million on new signings during the summer, United are currently in 14th place in the league, having lost three of their first seven games of the 2024/2025 season.
Speaking to Sky Sports about Ten Hag’s difficulties, Rooney, now head coach at Plymouth Argyle, emphasized that the manager is not solely to blame for the team’s struggles. He insisted that the players must also take responsibility for their poor performances.
“I’m sure Erik Ten Hag is a fantastic manager,” said Rooney. “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.”