Wayne Rooney criticised Bruno Fernandes for not running back during Manchester United’s remarkable comeback win over Roma in the Champions League.
United, enduring their worst start to a season since the 1980s, looked on course for their fifth defeat in six games as they trailed Roma 2-0 at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick once again called on his players to produce an improved performance following a shocking run but the Red Devils fell behind inside 12 minutes.
The Serie A side took advantage of the acres of space left on the left-hand side by the out-of-position Diogo Dalot to take the lead through Matias Soule.
A similar gap in the Manchester United defence led to Roma’s second as Ayden Heaven was penalised for a handball blocking a shot and Donyell Malen converted from the penalty spot.
Dalot attracted much criticism for his part in Roma’s goals but Rooney was disappointed by Fernandes’ lack of effort in getting back, especially given his status as club captain.
It looked as though Fernandes’ woes would deepen when he missed a second-half penalty but he was offered a reprieve due to encroachment and tucked his second effort away.
The goal, scored just before the hour mark, lifted Old Trafford but Manchester United still trailed with 10 minutes remaining.
In an extraordinary comeback that may have saved Carrick his job, Matheus Cunha then scored two goals in the space of three minutes to turn the game around.
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Cunha was shown a yellow card for jumping into the stands during his goal celebrations and received another shortly after, though United were still able to hold on with ten men to clinch a remarkable and unlikely victory.
Speaking on Amazon Prime at half-time, Rooney said the team were ‘shot to bits’ and was shocked by a lacklustre first-half display.
Asked whether the opening 45 minutes felt like a ‘new low’ for his former club, Rooney said: ‘Yeah, there’s been a lot of those lately but yeah, it did.
‘You’re in the Champions League and with all the talk and criticism the team have got, you were expecting some sort of reaction. There was nothing, absolutely nothing.
‘Roma took the ball and were more aggressive, no one on the United team put a tackle in. They were really struggling down the left-hand side.
‘You just want to see something, some sort of fight and passion and desire to win the football game but there was nothing.
‘For the first goal, if you’re playing in a system, when Dalot goes higher, Bruno should go into that position. He has to run back, you’re the captain of the football club, run back and take responsibility.
‘You’re a team and you need to play as a team. If a teammate is out of position, even if you don’t want to be there or run back, you have to run back.
‘I feel so sorry for the fans because they don’t know what to do. They’ve not been in this position for years, they don’t know whether to get behind the team or to get on their backs. I feel so sorry for them.
‘The team have just run out of ideas. There’s no confidence or belief, the team is shot to bits.’
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Wayne Rooney slams Manchester United star during comeback win over Roma | Football
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