Wayne Rooney makes worrying two-word Man Utd claim after Ruben Amorim comments

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes "something's broken" at Old Trafford following the club's humiliating League Cup exit to Grimsby . And it's Ruben Amorim 's post-match comments about his squad that have left United 's all-time top scorer concerned.

The Red Devils crashed out of the competition's second round on Wednesday after losing 12-11 on penalties to the Mariners. United fought back from two goals behind to level and force a shootout, only to endure fresh heartbreak as another miserable start to a campaign continued.

Amorim, who is reportedly set for crunch talks with his employers , sparked concern after the match when he declared: "My players spoke for me, really loud." Some took this to suggest the manager believes his squad's display reflected their commitment levels towards their boss.

Following a record-low 15th-place Premier League finish last term and a raft of new arrivals, many anticipated improvement from United this season. But an opening-day loss at home to Arsenal , followed by a frustrating stalemate at Fulham and their collapse at Grimsby, indicates further suffering awaits.

"That's the biggest concern," Rooney said on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show (via the Manchester Evening News ) when asked about Amorim's post-match response, which suggested a lack of player support.

"His words were damning on the players. If your manager comes out with those words, there's something broken."

Legions of United supporters would share that view. The years following Sir Alex Ferguson 's departure have been littered with let-downs, and there's no obvious sign improvements are on the horizon.

Amorim's predecessor, Erik ten Hag , was at the helm when the club secured the FA Cup last year, having captured the League Cup the season prior. And precisely when it appeared United couldn't perform worse than their then-record-low eighth-place finish under the Dutchman, Amorim failed to lift results as they tumbled into the bottom half.

There is now growing speculation suggesting Amorim could face the axe before completing his first year at Old Trafford. And Rooney's remarks highlight a worry that the manager himself may be losing belief in what can be achieved with his current squad.

"What we forget is he's only 40. He's a young manager," added Rooney. " Manchester United is so different to where he's been before. You come in and there's the media team, the commercial team, the fans and the media.

"There's a pressure with United, which he will never have felt before. When you're not winning games, that can start to get [to you], and it looked like he was at a breaking point."

One persistent critique that's emerged regarding United's players in the post-Ferguson era is an absence of leadership despite Amorim's finest efforts to address that problem. Ferguson deliberately identified and signed players with particular character traits throughout his 27-year reign at Old Trafford.

The lack of similar personalities to those under the Scot's reign may be the biggest difference between his success and the subsequent 12 years. This shortfall could potentially trigger another leadership change, and Rooney's concerns about Amorim's attitude may signal cause for alarm.

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