‘What the f*** are you doing? Stick a firework up their a**e!’: Wayne Rooney launches f-word rant about Man United players letting down close friend Michael Carrick

Wayne Rooney has launched a furious tirade at the Man United players who have let down his friend and ex-team-mate Michael Carrick. 

United’s abject 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth after their 4-1 demolition at Como has seen the crisis club plumb new depths but the manager has been given the chance to fight on and turn the season around, as reported by Daily Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler. 

The apparent lack of effort for Carrick, the fans and the club that United’s highly-paid stars are delivering has enraged club legend Rooney, 41.

‘At least I ran and worked hard and put myself about for the team,’ he said on The United Stand. ‘I don’t think the players have got a leg to stand on. What’s not fair is the performances they’re giving. 

‘I was a player who could score a goal, had a bit of ability but at least I f***ing ran and worked hard, put myself about for the team even when it’s going tough. These players are not doing that. 

‘I’d love to go in that dressing room. I’d love to go in that dressing room, f***ing sit them all down and say “what the f*** are you doing? What type of performance do you think this is? Do you think you deserve to wear that shirt?” Put a f***ing firework up their a**e because they’re f***ing not doing anything.

‘You could see the pain and anger in the fans’ faces when the players are walking around a football pitch. Martinez when Rayan just ran around him… when they’re just not getting to the ball it’s so frustrating.’

Carrick dropped Bruno Fernandes for the game and refused to bring on the club captain in the wake of his midweek interview moaning about the team’s tactics. 

Rooney namechecked Fernandes and Marcus Rashford as two individuals who should be stepping up with the beleaguered club struggling. 

He went on: ‘These players have had some top class managers and they’ve just absolutely pulled the wool over their eyes. They’re not running, they’re not working, they’re selfish. 

‘Bruno got off that bus with his hood up trying to hide away from it. Be front and centre. Go and stand up. You questioned the manager, go and show yourself. 

‘Where’s Rashford now? Things get tough, where’s Rashford? You need to play through a pain barrier, you need to be ready to give everything for the club and they’re not doing that.’

Supporters in the Stretford End gave Carrick a warm reaction, singing his chant and applauding him off the pitch on Sunday before turning on the players to boo. 

Rooney is pleased they’re seeing through the squad, who are ‘not fit to wear the shirt’. 

He added: ‘I was really pleased they clapped Michael off the pitch, it was almost a sympathy clap when they’ve done that and turned on the players. 

‘They’re not fit to wear that shirt at the minute. I don’t think they ever will be but they’re getting paid enormous amounts of money. The least you can do is work. Show that it means something. Show that you care. That’s why the fans have switched on them. 

‘It’s so annoying and frustrating and disappointing that these players are going to get away with it again. Michael Carrick has won five Premier League titles and the Champions League. He knows how to win at this club, albeit as a player, he knows what the standards are and you’ve got these players walking all over him.’

Rooney’s former team-mate Gary Neville has also been scathing in his criticism of the Man United players, accusing them of being unprofessional. 

‘They’ve teased him, haven’t they? They’ve conned him for a few months. They have they’ve conned him,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. 

‘Honestly, he would never say this publicly because he’s got class. I can say it for him though. He’ll look at those players with disgust. Some of them, he’ll be disgusted with some of those players. 

‘A few of them aren’t that professional. I live in Manchester. Some of them aren’t that professional. So I’ve got no time for them.

‘There’s a few of them that don’t go to bed at the right time, don’t eat the right things, don’t think about Manchester United every single minute of every day, and aren’t living and breathing this football club as they should be – and as professionals should.

‘Why? Because it’s gone to their heads. They are nothing, some of those players.’

Asked if he expects to be sacked, Carrick said: ‘I totally understand the situation. I’m not expecting anything either way.

‘I’m carrying on as normal. I love this place. I’ll always do what I feel is going to be the best for the football club and I won’t change that now, whatever decision is made.

‘It’s a tough situation, there’s no hiding from it. What it looks like and what’s next I really don’t know. I love what I do and I feel the responsibility. We’ll have to wait and see.

‘Of course, I take responsibility. I respect the position that I’m in, and the responsibility is mine. What else can I say really right now?