United have let Moyes down, admits Rooney

Wayne Rooney has admitted that Manchester United have “let down” manager David Moyes this season.

The Old Trafford outfit have endured a torrid start to their campaign, having already lost to Liverpool, Manchester City and West Brom in the Premier League this season.

United almost suffered a third consecutive league defeat when they trailed Sunderland on Saturday, before Adnan Januzaj scored twice on his first top-flight start to rescue a 2-1 victory.

And Rooney believes that the squad have to do more to help Moyes through a difficult period at the start of his United tenure.

Speaking to the British press, Rooney said: “Obviously the manager is under a bit of pressure, but 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.

“This will be a transition season, because it’s a new manager with different styles and we have to adapt to them.

“More importantly we need to do better for him than we have been.”

One bright spark for Moyes has been the emergence of Januzaj, who made a telling impact at the Stadium of Light, despite some questioning why he had been preferred over Shinji Kagawa.

The 18-year-old is reportedly set to sign a new deal at Old Trafford, with his current contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Rooney admitted that Moyes’ decision to employ the midfielder from the start was a risk, but believes that he is fully deserving of his starting spot.

He added: “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.”