Rooney fears 'uncomfortable' Amorim reunion due to his 'honest' comments

WAYNE ROONEY admits that he finds it awkward to criticise Manchester United - and knows it could lead to "uncomfortable" moments at the club.

Rooney , 39, watched on as his old side get soundly beaten 3-0 by Manchester City on Sunday.

4 Wayne Rooney has had his say on Man Utd's struggles Credit: Getty

4 Man Utd lost 3-0 to neighbours City on Sunday Credit: PA

4 Kai Rooney is starring for Man Utd's U18s - and is often watched by his dad at the Carrington training ground Credit: Getty

The former United skipper was joined by ex-team-mates Rio Ferdinand , Nemanja Vidic , Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger as he tuned in from South Korea, where he had played in an exhibition match .

During the latest episode of his BBC podcast , Rooney confessed that laying into his old side following bad results can be awkward, given his frequent trips to Carrington.

The ex-United skipper is often back at Red Devils HQ, as his son Kai plays for the club's academy.

Rooney said: "I was speaking with Rio yesterday on this, we want to support the team, we want to support the manager as best we can, but we also have to be honest as well because the fans are not fools and we have to give our honest opinion on what we're seeing.

"That does put us in uncomfortable positions at times. Rio was out in Chicago with the team for pre-season. Obviously I go into the training ground quite a lot with my children.

"It does put us in an uncomfortable position but we have to be honest with what we're seeing. Frankly it's just not good enough."

Despite potential awkwardness, Rooney did not hold back on United's struggles under Amorim.

The ex-England captain added: "What's important when you're trying to implement a new style is to win games as well while you're doing that.

"Unfortunately for Man Utd, and for the manager, it's been not too far off a year now and I think it's less than one point a game.

"Which in quite a lot of Premier League seasons is relegation form, which over nearly a year period is hard, it's very difficult. It's tough to watch, and to see."

Rooney then pinpointed the "powerful" factor that could prove to be pivotal if Amorim's tenure is to fully unravel.

United's all-time leading goalscorer added: "There was an image, towards the end of the game, where I was seeing the Man Utd fans leaving. I've never seen that. Well, in my time, I've never seen Man Utd fans leaving.

"And you could hear the fans singing Amorim's name, but I think that is so powerful that the Man Utd fans were leaving the game because they knew the game was over and I think they were very disappointed in what they've seen.

"It's hard to see how it continues."

Despite coming under intense criticism, Amorim vowed not to compromise on his system.

The Portuguese boss, whose side are 14th in the Premier League table, said: "I am not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.

"We talk about this every game that we lose. I believe in my way and I am going to play my way until I want to change.

"I see that we are doing better but the results don’t show that. I remember last year I played with my former club against City – we won 4-1.

"It was not near the same amount of opportunities – the way we controlled that game compared to today.

"In certain moments we were not better than City – I understand that. It is hard and the record says everything. I understand."

MANCHESTER UNITED'S miserable start to the season continued after they were brushed aside by neighbours Man City.

Ruben Amorim's side were unable to come back with a bang after the international break, falling to a 3-0 away defeat.

Phil Foden opened the scoring for City after just 18 minutes with a glancing header that gave Altay Bayindir - keeping his spot despite the arrival on Ssnne Lammens - little chance to stop.

While Erling Haaland did what he does best by bagging a second-half brace to put the hosts out of reach.

United now sit 14th in the table, with City leapfrogging them with their second win of the season.

Here's how SunSport's Katherine Walsh rated each Man Utd players performance...

4 Ruben Amorim has won just eight of his 31 Prem games in charges of United Credit: Getty