Wayne Rooney: 'Don't think they will make top four' - Manchester United legend doubts club's Champions League hopes
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Updated 09/03/2024 at 17:26 GMT
Wayne Rooney was downbeat about Manchester United's Champions League qualification hopes this season. A penalty each from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were enough to secure a 2-0 win over Everton at Old Trafford, but the club's record goalscorer doubts that Erik ten Hag's side will be able to do enough and leapfrog both Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.
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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes the club will ultimately miss out Champions League football this season.
The Red Devils claimed a much-needed 2-0 victory over Everton thanks to first-half penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, but were far from convincing against an Everton side that created several promising openings throughout the 90 minutes.
"I don't think Manchester United will make the top four, because they almost have to win every game and they're very inconsistent so I can't see them doing that," he said in the TNT Sports studio after the game. .
"It's going to be very difficult. There were no clear-cut chances for Everton, but there are too gaps and it's too easy for teams to create chances against them."
Those sentiments were echoed by Rooney's former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who looked ahead to their FA Cup quarter-final tie against Liverpool on March 17.
He believes that playing in that same manner against a team of Liverpool's quality will leave them unstuck.
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"You can't keep doing that at this level, you can get away with it sometimes, but in the end you're going to get caught or punched," he added.
"Unfortunately Man United are not a team that dominates enough of the ball to stop teams at the moment.
"It's about finding that balance. As Wayne says, the chances weren't clear-cut, but the way you play football is stop the opposition having any chances at goal."
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