Paolo Di Canio has become the latest big-name football personality to weigh in on the malaise at Manchester United.
Louis van Gaal and the Red Devils are struggling at the moment, and the manager and his players are coming under increasing pressure.
Paul Scholes, as reported by the Manchester Evening News, has also criticised van Gaal for a ‘boring’ style of football and slammed the manager for the lack of entertainment on show at Old Trafford.
They were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage following a 3-2 defeat from Wolfsburg in their final match, while the Red Devils then went on to lose consecutive Premier League matches against newly promoted Norwich City and Bournemouth, as well as Stoke City.
United may have halted their losing streak with a 0-0 draw against Chelsea on Monday evening, but they have slipped down to sixth in the table, five points behind Manchester City in fourth.
Speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport [via the Daily Express], former Sunderland manager Di Canio has identified what he thought the reason was for United’s slump under van Gaal.
“United have lost their English spirit and have not found a more international dimension,” the controversial manager began.
“And then there is Rooney – he also looks like he is on the decline. He has lost the energy that made him great.”
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There may be some credence to Di Canio’s comments, with only three Englishmen—Rooney, Ashley Young and Chris Smalling—starting for the Red Devils against Chelsea.
Indeed, during his time in charge of the club, van Gaal has offloaded, released or sent on loan homegrown talent such as Danny Welbeck, James Wilson and Tom Cleverley.