{"id":296708,"date":"2023-10-21T23:09:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T23:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=296708"},"modified":"2023-10-21T23:09:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-21T23:09:17","slug":"rooney-berates-birmingham-stars-after-former-man-utd-teammate-deals-bad-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/rooney-berates-birmingham-stars-after-former-man-utd-teammate-deals-bad-start\/","title":{"rendered":"Rooney berates Birmingham stars after former Man Utd teammate deals bad start"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Middlesbrough ruined Wayne Rooney’s first game in charge of Birmingham City, as a late goal from Morgan Rogers handed the home team all three points and a fifth-straight win. Rooney was furious after the game and criticised his players for not being good enough, as he was outclassed by former Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick.<\/p>\n

Rooney and Carrick spent the majority of their United career together, but on Saturday they were enemies on the touchline.<\/p>\n

Middlesbrough made a poor start to the Championship season, but have turned a corner and have won their last five games in the English second division. Birmingham made a surprise change when they parted ways with manager John Eustace despite being seventh in the table, but Rooney was a clear candidate for the job as soon as American owners took over the Club.<\/p>\n

The ownership has faith in Rooney, with NFL legend Tom Brady also an investor who’s likely to have had a say in his hiring. But it was a disappointing start for the English legend, and he didn’t hide his feelings after the game.<\/p>\n

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Scoring goals has been an issue for Birmingham this season, despite picking up five wins from 11 games before Rooney came in. The hierarchy at the Club hired Rooney as they felt he would bring a ‘no fear’ style of play to the team, and he was upset after the game as his players reverted to their old ways.<\/p>\n

“We need to be better. We need to improve and be better with the ball,” Rooney said after the game. “Defensively we did OK, Middlesbrough cause you problems, we know that they are a good team.<\/p>\n

“With the ball, in possession, we need to be better. We need to be more comfortable taking the ball while marked and being more creative by doing that. I thought Middlesbrough had good periods in the game when they got through, and then we got a bit of a foothold on it.<\/p>\n