Wayne Rooney claims the Manchester United team have let new boss David Moyes down with their poor performances.
United have endured a sub-par start to the season losing three of their first six games leading to Moyes receiving heavy criticism and facing increasing pressure.
The Scot has led the Red Devils to their worst start in 24 years and before Saturday’s trip to Sunderland they sat in the bottom half of the table.
After their 2-1 victory, on-form striker Rooney said: “Obviously the manager is under a bit of pressure.
“We know as a team it’s us who have let him down. We have to pull together for the manager and show the sort of fight we have done here and we’ll be fine.”
United’s shaky start is due to a transitional period at Old Trafford as the team adapts to changes under Moyes and life without Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill.
“This will be a transition season, because it’s a new manager with different styles and we have to adapt to them,” Rooney added.
“We need to do better for him than we have been.”
The pressure was certainly on when they went a goal down to Craig Gardner with the Black Cats later forcing a stunning save by David De Gea to keep the deficit down to one in the first half.
It took a sublime second half double from 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj to see United take all three points from the Stadium of Light.
“He’s a great prospect. He takes the ball, he runs at players and he’s got great ability. It’s great the manager has thrown him into the side, especially with what has happened in the last few games,” said Rooney.
“There was big pressure on us, but the manager has trusted him and he has repaid that.
“He’s very confident, that’s great to see. A lot of the young players who come through are a little bit timid and shy, but he looks comfortable and he’s confident in his own ability, which you need to be.
“It was a brave move to play him in the circumstances and we’re delighted it’s paid off.”
Junuzaj could be the next star at Old Trafford and while feeling the pressure to perform consistently at the highest level, his team mate believes he thrives on it.
Rooney said: “There is a lot of pressure, but he seems to thrive on it. We know the ability he has got, but you never know how they are going to react when they are thrown into games.
“We need to help the younger players and if we do that, they’ll be moments where they come in and win us the game, as has happened here. The experienced lads need to help them emerge into a team.”
Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.
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