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Manchester United has "deteriorated" under Ruben Amorim, according to former club captain and all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney.
The 20-time English champions appointed Amorim on November 1 of the previous year to succeed the dismissed Erik ten Hag.
However, over 10 months later, the Portuguese manager seems to be struggling to turn around the team’s performance.
In a disappointing display, his team lost 3-0 in a derby match against Manchester City on Sunday, with numerous fans in the away section departing long before the game concluded.
"I strive to be as encouraging and positive as I can regarding the manager and the players," noted the former England forward on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, now available on BBC Sounds.
"However, it is quite challenging to claim we are witnessing progress, or at least indications that results are on the horizon.
"We aren't seeing any of that, which makes it difficult. Toward the end of the match, I noticed the Manchester United supporters leaving.
"You could hear them chanting Amorim's name, but it feels significant that United fans chose to exit the match.
"They knew the game was finished, and it seemed they were deeply upset by the performance. It's hard to envision how things can move forward.
"What are the trends? What are we observing that could enhance the team in the future?"
Last season, United concluded the league in 15th place with only 42 points, marking their lowest finish since the 1989-90 season. They accumulated their fewest points in a top-tier campaign since their last relegation in 1973-74.
Since Amorim took charge, the club has invested around £250 million in new players while offloading many of the so-called 'bomb squad'.
This has enabled the 40-year-old manager to restructure his team into a 3-4-3 formation, which he is committed to maintaining after success at Sporting.
Despite this, many issues from the previous season seem to be reemerging.
"I believe that since Ten Hag's dismissal and Ruben's appointment, we've been hearing about the planned style of play that was supposed to shift," remarked Rooney, who netted 253 goals for United from 2004 to 2017.
"If the manager is truthful with himself, things have worsened."
United are exhibiting 'relegation form'
In the early weeks of the 2025-26 season, United has already faced a humiliating Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two's Grimsby.
Remarkably, they have scored just two goals in open play and have already lost two out of their first four league matches, earning a mere four points— their worst start since the 1992-93 season under Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, by that point, Ferguson had already built some goodwill, having won the FA Cup, League Cup, and European Cup Winners' Cup, while also achieving a runners-up finish in the league in his first complete season (1987-88).
In contrast, Amorim's win percentage of 36% across all matches stands as the lowest for any permanent Manchester United manager since the end of World War Two, and his league success rate is a disappointing 26%.
Out of the 17 teams that have continuously participated in the Premier League since Amorim took charge, his United squad shares the lowest record, together with Tottenham, amassing merely 31 points from 31 matches.
"That form would typically lead to relegation over several league seasons," Rooney commented.
"When you are trying to establish a new approach, winning games concurrently is crucial."
Rooney also reiterated the sentiments of other former players now commentating in the media as he discussed Amorim's preference for utilizing two central midfielders, often opposing teams that deploy three.
"The challenge with this [3-4-3] formation is relying on just two in the midfield," he explained.
"The players lack the necessary stamina and capability to cover the full breadth of the pitch while moving back and forth. They are being overwhelmed and outmuscled in that central area."
"Look, I have had my share of managing, and I understand how it functions, as well as the scrutiny when others critique your setup. I can relate to that, but it's glaringly apparent."
"If you are facing difficulties, you need to add an extra man in midfield to enhance your chances of competing."
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