Striker tries to deflect blame from under fire boss.
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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has admitted that the players have all “let David Moyes down” so far this season as he seeks to deflect some of the negative attention off of the new manager, the Mirror reports.
The new boss has found himself under a considerable amount of pressure this term after failing to get off to a good start since taking over the reigns from Sir Alex Ferguson over the summer.
“Obviously the manager is under a bit of pressure,” said Rooney as he left the Stadium of Light on Saturday night to join up with another pressured situation, England’s World Cup qualification bid.
“We know as a team it’s us who have let him down. We have to pull together for the manager and show the sort of fight we have done here and we’ll be fine.”
The pressure was on early during Sunday’s visit to Sunderland as Craig Gardner put the hosts ahead, be 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj scored on his debut, and became the first Manchester United player to do so since Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
The symptoms of a rickety season were on display in what Rooney admits is a “transition” time at United.
“It will be because it’s a new manager with different styles and we have to adapt to them.
“We need to do better for him than we have been,” conceded Rooney. But if the uncertain defending, lack of creative ingenuity and general sloppiness of the first 45 minutes were unfamiliar, there was one trait of Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson that Moyes admirably imposed.
Rooney also took time to praise the young forward by saying: “He’s a great prospect. He takes the ball, he runs at players and he’s got great ability. It’s great the manager has thrown him into the side, especially with what has happened in the last few games.
“There was big pressure on us, but the manager has trusted him and he has repaid that.
“He’s very confident, that’s great to see. A lot of the young players who come through are a little bit timid and shy, but he looks comfortable and he’s confident in his own ability, which you need to be.
“It was a brave move to play him in the circumstances and we’re delighted it’s paid off.
“There is a lot of pressure, but he seems to thrive on it. We know the ability he has got, but you never know how they are going to react when they are thrown into games.
“We need to help the younger players and if we do that, they’ll be moments where they come in and win us the game, as has happened here. The experienced lads need to help them emerge into a team.”