Wayne Rooney didn't hold back when discussing Chelsea's current struggles, calling out star players like Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella for their lack of leadership during the club's ongoing crisis. The Manchester United legend's comments come after a second-string Nottingham Forest side handed Chelsea their sixth consecutive league defeat—a match that marked Forest's first Premier League outing following Liam Rosenior's dismissal.

"It was weird watching the second half of that game, and the fans had already left the stadium," Rooney said on his podcast. "It almost looked like the supporters didn't know who to be angry at. There wasn't a manager there to blame. It was clear they weren't having Liam Rosenior from the start, which is a shame because he was judged way too early."

The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge was eerily quiet, and Rooney believes the players need to take a hard look in the mirror. "That's Marc Cucurella, that's Enzo Fernandez. It's all well and good being vocal about the manager, but then you have to go out and perform. These are top players, but they're letting themselves down. They should be the leaders—they've won World Cups and European Championships with their countries. So go and be a leader. But right now, they're not leading that team or setting an example."

The criticism extends beyond individual performances to the club's broader strategy. Since the current ownership took over in 2022, Chelsea has spent approximately £1.5 billion on new players, focusing heavily on signing young talent to long-term contracts. The result? The Blues are on track to finish outside the Champions League places for the third time in four full seasons. "If you're 24 years old and getting an eight- or nine-year contract, it's absolutely crazy," Rooney added. "The money they're spending and how they try to operate is madness. For a player, you don't want to tie yourself in for that long at a club like this."

Rooney emphasized that experience is the backbone of any successful team. "They have very young players who could be world-class, but when things get tough, you need to draw on your reserves. A lot of those players haven't been through difficult moments before, and there's no one with experience to guide them through it."