Wayne Rooney’s start as the manager of Birmingham City has been challenging, with his team losing all three of their opening fixtures, including two defeats against familiar faces from his playing days.
In one of those matches, Birmingham City faced Middlesbrough, led by Rooney’s former Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick, and suffered a 1-0 loss at the Riverside Stadium. Additionally, Rooney’s former assistant, Liam Rosenior, led Hull City to a 2-0 victory at St Andrews. Birmingham City’s struggles continued with another loss against Southampton.
After the defeat to Birmingham City, frustrated fans expressed their disappointment. In response to the situation, Rooney called for patience, stating, “My message to the fans would be to be patient.” He acknowledged that parting ways with a popular manager had created frustration among the supporters but emphasized the club’s long-term ambitions to change its style of play and culture. Rooney expressed his desire to move the club forward and mentioned that building out from the back had been a focus in recent games, indicating his commitment to evolving the team’s playing style.
Former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand discussed the challenges Rooney faces at Birmingham City on his YouTube channel, Five. Ferdinand pointed out that the transition to a new manager can be challenging for players who were accustomed to a different system and a successful manager. He stressed the importance of achieving positive results to gain the trust and belief of the players. Ferdinand also expressed his confidence in Rooney’s ability to succeed in his managerial role despite the initial struggles.
Overall, Rooney is facing a tough task in reshaping Birmingham City’s playing style and achieving success, but he remains determined to bring about positive changes at the club.