Manchester United have refused to comment after Wayne Rooney alleged some players were hiding behind injuries during the club’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Leandro Trossard downed the Red Devils, with the Belgium international scoring in the 20th minute.
United were better than they were last Monday, when they suffered a nightmare 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
But it was a difficult day for the fallen giants, with Arsenal still superior as they claimed all three points to boost their hopes of Premier League glory.
Wayne Rooney criticised Man Utd players and suggested they were using their injuries not to play after Arsenal defeat
SKY
United were without a number of first-team players for the match.
Bruno Fernandes missed out through injury, with the Portugal international also absent on Monday. Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Tyrell Malacia are also currently crocked.
Rooney, speaking on Sky Sports, boldly claimed that some United players were actually fit to play.
“As we look at the injuries they’ve picked up, some of those players can play, 100 per cent,” he said.
“When you have the European Championship coming up and an FA Cup final, it’s easy for players to stay out of it a little bit, get back for the final and make sure they’re ready for the European Championship. I’ve seen it myself over the years.
“The players who are injured are not filling themselves in any credit at the minute.
“The manager is going to take all the stick for that.”
And United, when contacted by GB News, refused to comment on the matter.
Rooney won the lot as a player at Old Trafford, with the former England skipper winning five Premier League titles.
Erik ten Hag said after the game that United players were better against Arsenal due to a change in ‘attitude’.
But Rooney thinks squad members should be insulted by that remark, with the former Red Devils star saying: “I think anyone who is Manchester United manager is under pressure because obviously it is a huge club.
“When you’re losing games in the way they’re losing games at the minute, there’s going to be big questions asked,” he added.
“I said this a few weeks ago, I think the players have to really look at themselves because when you’ve got your manager doing his interview and he’s talking about attitude and players’ attitude not being right to play for Manchester United, that is a massive insult.
“If I see my manager saying that then there is no way I’d just let that ride and ride until the end of the season.
“It looks like some players are just trying to get to the end of the season so I feel for him in that way.
“But ultimately it’s his job to make sure that the players are right.”
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Roy Keane, meanwhile, responded to Rooney’s claims about players using their injuries as an excuse not to play.
And the United icon admitted it was a ‘worry’ that so many individuals apparently don’t want to feature.
“That’s not a good sign,” he said.
“You hope players who are carrying injuries are desperate to get back to playing football.
“There are always a few players at every club who drag their heels with a few injuries.
“But other players, certainly ones I played with, they will try and knock a week or two off that.
Man Utd were flat on Sunday as Arsenal won 1-0 at Old Trafford
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“That’s always a worry, but that goes on at lots of clubs, where they have a lack of confidence and they’re out of it, and they don’t rush back to be with the team. “
United are next in action against Newcastle on Wednesday night (8pm).
The Red Devils have already lost twice to Eddie Howe’s team this term, with the Toon winning 3-0 in the Carabao Cup and 1-0 in the Premier League.
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