Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has challenged Marcus Rashford’s claim that an “inconsistent environment” at the club was responsible for his dip in form.
Rashford, who has since revived his career on loan at Barcelona, scored 30 goals in the 2022-23 season but struggled last term, leading to a loan spell at Aston Villa. He recently suggested the inconsistent environment at United contributed to his struggles.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former striker argued that while the environment may not have been perfect, blaming it is “an easy one to throw at people” and that a player’s application is paramount.
“If you are not playing well or you get left out of the team then I think it is easier to blame the environment… that comes from how you apply yourself,” Rooney stated, adding that he has seen Rashford fail to run or do more in games, which “is nothing to do with an environment.”
Rooney also weighed in on the upcoming clash between Manchester United and Liverpool at Anfield this Sunday, suggesting the pressure is on the reigning champions, who have lost their last three games across all competitions.
He believes Liverpool’s recent defeats have “exposed” underlying issues despite their strong start and that a loss to United would put significant pressure on them.
