Wayne Rooney has responded to claims from Marcus Rashford that his fluctuating form at Manchester United was due to the club’s instability. The England icon, who is currently a BBC analyst, demanded that players be held responsible for their game instead of pointing fingers at outer sources, re-firing the debate on professionalism and mentality at Manchester United.
Rashford, who has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances since his 2016 debut, recently said he had been in an “inconsistent environment for a very long time.” The remark came after the 27-year-old revived his career on loan at Barcelona, following a difficult spell under manager Ruben Amorim where he managed just eight goals last season.
While Rashford’s talent remains unquestioned, Rooney believes the forward’s issues stem from self-application rather than surroundings. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former United skipper said: “I think the environment hasn’t been right but that is down to yourself. If you are not playing well or get left out of the team then it’s easier to blame the environment. That comes from how you apply yourself.”
Rooney and Keane Question Rashford’s Accountability
Rooney also pointed to Rashford’s fluctuating work rate and body language, arguing that such aspects are personal, not environmental. “In games we have seen with him where we know he can do more, we know he can run more – that is nothing to do with an environment,” he said. “He’s got the stats to back it up, but it’s what you are out of possession – becoming a team player, pressing properly.”
His stance echoed fellow United legend Roy Keane, who accused Rashford of being “part of the problem.” Speaking to ITV, Keane said: “He should have been setting the standards. If you’re part of the environment and you’re causing problems by being late or not being a top pro, then you’re part of the problem. He’s 27, he’s got to mature a little bit.”
Both former captains, shaped under Sir Alex Ferguson’s culture of accountability, see the issue as emblematic of United’s decline in standards. For them, the problem lies less with the club’s structure and more with players’ mental approach and consistency.
Rashford’s Revival and the Broader Debate
Rashford’s answer, however, has arrived on the field in spite of the abuse. His loan at Barcelona has been an experience of resurgence, three goals and five assists in ten matches the stats, with suggestions that the Catalan outfit may make his move permanent next summer.
In his first comments, Rashford had spoken of being inconsistent himself: “I have been inconsistent for a period for such a long time that it is really difficult to be consistent. “But I-and this is a little bit of the versatility talking here-but I also believe consistency is what I have to add to my game.
Though headlines characterized his comments as an excuse, they also indicate a player who is conscious of his weaknesses but irritated by inconsistency. Under the post-Sir Alex era, United have suffered managerial change, tactical flux, and off-pitch disruption—circumstances which undoubtedly affect player performance.
Author’s View: Balance Between Blame and Environment
Rooney’s message carries weight: top players must deliver regardless of conditions. Rashford, however, isn’t entirely wrong either—unstable systems can impact performance. The balance lies between accountability and context.
Rashford’s improvement in Spain shows what stability, confidence, and tactical clarity can restore. Yet sustaining it requires the self-drive Rooney demands. The debate ultimately exposes a deeper issue at Manchester United—where leadership, culture, and consistency have all faltered.
For now, Rashford’s renaissance at Barcelona is reshaping perceptions, but as Rooney and Keane insist, elite players thrive not by blaming environments but by mastering them.
