Wayne Rooney says Manchester United need to drastically improve if they are to finish in the top four this campaign.
The Red Devils slipped out of the top four after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Burnley on Tuesday in the Premier League.
United currently sit fifth, one point behind fourth-placed West Ham, but their performances have been far from convincing since Ralf Rangnick took charge.
Asked whether United will qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season, Rooney told talkSPORT: ‘I think it’s going to be tough, if I’m being honest. You can see confidence is low and there are other issues going on around the club.
‘They’ve certainly got the players there and they have got some good results of late, but performances haven’t been great, that has to improve.
‘Them players need to show their character, show they’re all together and fighting for that club – because there are games I have watched when you question that at times. That’s me being honest.
‘If it carries on going the way it’s going, I don’t think United will get top-four. I think there needs to be serious conversations among the players, without coaches and staff there.
‘They need to come together, whether they’re friends or they don’t like each other, for 90 minutes they need to come together for that club.’
With West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham all in contention for a top-four position and United not showing the sort of form needed to finish in the Champions League places, Rooney is backing Spurs to sneak in.
‘Tottenham, I think they might sneak in there, they’ve got a very good manager,’ he added. ‘If it wasn’t United, I’d like West Ham because I like David Moyes and I think he’s doing a great job there.’
