Graeme Souness backs Wayne Rooney's claim that some Manchester United players are faking injuries
Graeme Souness has backed Wayne Rooney's sensational claims that some of Manchester United's injured stars could play if they wanted to.
The Red Devils' record goalscorer gave a damning assessment of his former team after ten key men were sidelined for their 1-0 defeat against Arsenal.
bricklayer assembly became the The latest United player to suffer an injury problem midweek with Luke Shaw also suffering a setback.
Captain Bruno Fernández, Mark Rashford, Harry Maguire, antonio martial, Tyrell MalaciaLisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelofand Rafael Varane Furthermore, everyone was left out of the defeat at Old Trafford.
In the absence of the double, a deformed United line-up suffered its second defeat this week, with Leandro Trossard's goal being the only goal in a match in which Arsenal He barely sweats.
During his post-match analysis, former England captain Rooney said he believes some of the injured stars were fit to play.
However, the 38-year-old claimed those players are holding back to avoid being part of United's current form.
Asked if players had stopped playing for Erik ten Hag, Rooney told Sky Sports: “If so, then they are not showing it very well. There are very good players in that squad and their performances are well below average.
“If we look at the injuries they have suffered, some of those players can play. 100 percent!”
He added: “It's easy to have the European Championship around the corner, the FA (Cup) final around the corner, because now they're getting a bit nervous. It's easy for the players to stay a bit on the sidelines.” a little bit and then go back to the final and prepare for the European Championship.
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“I've seen it myself over the years, so I think the players who are injured are not giving themselves any credit at the moment and the manager will take full responsibility for that.”
Liverpool legend Souness told talkSPORT he heard similar things from a source.
He told talkSPORT: “At the moment they are average and that is putting it politely. The performance they put on at Palace was more than impressive.
“As a group of players, they didn't realize from the first minute to the last that they didn't realize they were playing for Manchester United. It was a miserable performance.
“I didn't hear Wayne Rooney say it, but he was saying that some players don't want to play in the first team.
“I can tell you, without giving any comment, that I heard it from someone who is a reliable source.
“There are some players at Manchester United who are available to play, but they have decided not to play at the moment.”
Rio Ferdinand also joined White and Jordan on talkSPORT on Monday and admitted he knew nothing about the claims.
But he did say it would be a “shame” if what Rooney said was accurate.
Man United Erik ten Hag will be sweating over the fitness of several of his players with the final round of the FA Cup with Manchester City on the radar.
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But the Dutchman urged the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford not to ideally come into the Wembley clash cold, telling talkSPORT after the match: “If you want to go into a difficult game like the cup final, you need to practice the game”. and they know it.”
Rooney, who retired at the age of 35 in January 2021, suffered many injuries throughout his career.
The former England international, who played through pain at the 2006 World Cup after suffering a metatarsal fracture just over a month before the tournament began, admitted he is yet to see the same desire in the current generation of United.
He continued: “You have to want to play. I played with injuries.
“The coach has to be ruthless and take that opportunity away from you. As long as you don't have a serious injury you should want to play on that football field. To me, that doesn't seem to be the case.”
