'Need to do better' - Wayne Rooney breaks silence on Erik ten Hag's Manchester United future

Wayne Rooney has voiced his opinion on Manchester United's current form, insisting the players "need to do better" and expressing his confidence in Erik ten Hag as "a fantastic manager".

The club's all-time top scorer with 253 goals from 559 games, Rooney has found it hard to watch his former team struggle in the lower half of the Premier League standings.

Amidst intense scrutiny with only two wins from seven league matches this season, Rooney remains hopeful that Ten Hag can reverse the club's fortunes. Speaking to Sky Sports, Rooney said: "Well that’s obviously down to the owners of the football club to look at that. I’m sure Erik Ten Hag is a fantastic manager.

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"He’s won trophies wherever he’s been and won trophies at Manchester United as well. So yes, he’s going through a difficult period and I think he’d probably say that himself."

"But you hope he can turn it around because too often managers lose their jobs and then it’s another rebuild with a different manager."

With United having secured just three victories in all competitions since last season's eighth-place finish, Rooney questioned the squad's efforts.

"I think it’s difficult and anyone would admit that Manchester United want to be challenging for titles, so to be 14th, I’m sure everyone at the club knows they need to improve on that.

"I know Erik Ten Hag is doing everything he can to try and improve that. Players again, and I said this last season, need to do better than what they're doing.

"When you’re going through a tough period the important thing is you