Players need to take more responsibility: Rooney

Wayne Rooney admits Everton’s players “need to take responsibility” for the club’s problems this season.

The Toffees sacked Ronald Koeman as boss in October 2017 and replaced him with Sam Allardyce on a permanent basis at the end of November.

David Unsworth’s unsuccessful reign as caretaker manager was sandwiched between and former Manchester United forward Rooney accepts some blame lies with the Everton squad.

Rooney, who returned to the club in the summer, told Sky Sports: “We felt like we’d let (Unsworth) down a little bit with some of our performances.

“As players we need to take responsibility. The manager can only do so much. As a group of players you need to take ownership.

“It’s not nice when you’re a player and your manager gets sacked. You know you haven’t done your job properly.”

Rooney, who spent 13 years at Old Trafford, accepts United face a battle to overturn Manchester City’s dominance in the Premier League.

City are currently 13 points clear of Jose Mourinho’s side at the top of the table and Rooney believes Pep Guardiola is moulding a team in Barcelona’s image.

Rooney added:

“In terms of catching Manchester City, certainly not this season and, if I’m being perfectly honest, it will be very difficult next season if City keep playing the way they are playing.

“They are almost getting to the level Barcelona were at four or five years ago.”