Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United‘s players must take more responsibility on the pitch after their poor start against Hull City.
United were beaten 2-0 by the newly promoted side, with Michael Carrick‘s team struggling to impose themselves during the opening stages. Wayne Rooney feels the problem wasn’t simply down to the manager’s tactics. He believes the players needed to react better themselves.
“I think players need to take responsibility on the pitch as well,” Rooney said.
Wayne Rooney identifies a major problem
Wayne Rooney focused heavily on United’s pressing during the game. He felt the front two were dropping too far back, which gave Hull’s defenders plenty of time to play out.
“For that first 20 minutes, I was sat with Alan Shearer watching the game. I said to him the two forwards for Manchester United, they were coming back and they were covering the midfield players for Hull,” Rooney said on Stick to Football Podcast.
That, according to Rooney, allowed Hull to push their wing-backs higher and gradually move Manchester United backwards.
His argument was simple. One of United’s forwards needed to step out and put pressure on the ball rather than continuing to track a Hull midfielder.
“In this case it was Bruno and Cunha, if one of them makes the decision, ‘We’re not letting them dictate what’s going on here.’ One of them gets to the ball, and then they forget about the midfielders…if he goes to the ball, then the midfielder behind you automatically has to come in and take care of those midfield players.”
Rooney believes that small decision could have changed the shape of the entire press. United’s midfield would have moved up, the defence would have followed and Hull would have had less freedom.
Instead, the former United striker felt Carrick’s team spent too much of the match reacting to Hull.
“We were too passive. We were allowing them to dictate and do what they wanted.”
Manchester United showed Hull too much respect
Wayne Rooney also explained that pressing isn’t always something a manager can completely control from the touchline. Players have to recognise situations and make the call themselves.
“But it’s decisions from players on the pitch which make the difference.”
He compared the situation with his own playing days, when communication from the centre-backs often determined when the forwards should step up.
“When I used to play, [the call] would come from your centre-backs. I used to have arguments with Rio [Ferdinand] all the time over it.”
Rooney believes Manchester United should have been more aggressive against Hull’s defenders instead of allowing them to settle into the game.
“We’ve got Championship centre-backs on the ball, why are we giving them time?”
That lack of pressure ultimately helped Hull grow into the match. Rooney’s frustration was that Manchester United appeared to make things easier for their opponents than they needed to be.
“We showed them too much respect.”
Manchester United can’t afford to allow another opponent to dictate the tempo so easily, particularly when the players themselves have the ability to change the situation on the pitch.
Manchester United play Ipswich next and will be looking to bounce back after the embarrassing Hull City defeat.
