Rooney Calls Manchester United Stars "Selfish" and "Like Babies" After Fernandes Slams Carrick

Wayne Rooney has launched a blistering attack on the Manchester United squad, branding the players "selfish" and accusing them of behaving "like babies" in the fallout from Wednesday's stunning 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.

United's all-time leading scorer was reacting on The United Stand podcast to captain Bruno Fernandes publicly questioning the coaching staff's tactics. Fernandes claimed the team failed to apply enough pressure and adopted a "mood of defeat" after conceding just two minutes into the match at the Sinigaglia Stadium, with only a stoppage-time goal from Joshua Zirkzee reducing the margin.

Rooney said the criticism would rip the dressing room apart, pointing to Lisandro Martinez's recent swipe at the club hierarchy after the 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid as the start of the rot. "You can say whether Bruno was right or wrong in what he said, but you have to take responsibility on the pitch," Rooney said. "These players, they're selfish. They don't care about their teammates, don't care about the manager, the staff or the fans, they care about themselves. If they're not getting what's right for them, they're like babies and just throw their toys out of the pram."

The outburst piles more pressure on Carrick, appointed on an interim basis in January before earning a contract through 2028. United are now winless in seven matches across all competitions, sit 20th in the Champions League standings and 13th in the Premier League.