Wayne Rooney says Jose Mourinho has been made a scapegoat at Manchester United

Posted Wednesday, October 10, 2018 by Skysports.com

Wayne Rooney says Jose Mourinho has been made a scapegoat at Manchester United
Wayne Rooney says Manchester United's players need to 'stand up' for Jose Mourinho

Wayne Rooney says Jose Mourinho has become an "easy target" at Manchester United and believes the players must take responsibility for the club's slow start to the season.

United moved up to the eighth in the Premier League with a 3-2 win over Newcastle on Saturday but remain seven points adrift of league leaders Manchester City.

The club has been forced to dismiss reports claiming that Mourinho is set to lose his job at Old Trafford and Rooney believes the Portuguese has been made a scapegoat for the club's underperforming players.

Wayne Rooney says Jose Mourinho has been made a scapegoat at Manchester United
Mourinho has faced criticism after the club's slow start to the season

"It's tough [at United], it has been a tough situation," Rooney told The Telegraph, after scoring both goals for DC United in a 2-1 win over Chicago Fire on Sunday.

"The players, the manager, it has been a tough start to the season.

"I know Jose is getting a load of stick but I said a few weeks ago, the players have to stand up.

"They have to be counted and they have to be better. The manager can do so much but then it is down to the players on the pitch to produce and probably collectively.

"It [the poor run of form] is a bit of everything coming together but Jose is an easy target. Some of the players have to be better."

Rooney believes the current situation at Old Trafford is similar to Louis van Gaal's two-year spell with the club.

"I said the same thing when Louis van Gaal was there," said Rooney. "He took a lot of stick but behind closed doors I said to the players, 'We have to be doing better'.

"Personally I think he [Van Gaal] set us up brilliantly the way but we didn't produce on the pitch so I am sure that is getting said behind the scenes."