Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing assessment of Crystal Palace's star players, including a major Manchester United transfer target, following one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history.
Historic FA Cup Humiliation for Premier League Eagles
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, the football world was stunned as National League South side Macclesfield defeated Premier League holders Crystal Palace 2-1 at Moss Rose. This result is now considered the greatest upset in the competition's long history.
Non-league heroes Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored for the Silkmen, completely outplaying their top-flight opponents. A late, spectacular free-kick from Yeremy Pino proved only a consolation in what Rooney labelled a "truly terrible" performance from Oliver Glasner's side.
Rooney's Half-Time Critique of England Duo
Rooney, whose brother John manages Macclesfield, was working as a pundit for BBC Sport. With his side leading 1-0 at the break, he did not hold back in criticising Palace's established internationals.
"It's the players who are playing more regularly for Palace who I think have been more disappointing," Rooney stated. "I think Wharton has been very sloppy, he's given too many balls away. The captain Guehi, Wharton, I think they've been slow, complacent on the ball. I've been more disappointed with them."
This critique is particularly significant for Adam Wharton, the England midfielder who has been strongly linked with a £100million move to Manchester United. Defender Marc Guehi, also an England regular, is coveted by Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Fallout and Managerial Fury
Rooney expanded on his views after the final whistle, emphasising Palace's inability to cope. "As good as Macclesfield was, I thought Crystal Palace were so bad today," he added. "Macclesfield roughed them up and they absolutely could not deal with it."
Palace manager Oliver Glasner was seething in his post-match interview, offering no excuses for the lack of quality. "We had no kind of quality today... If you can't create clear chances, it is a lack of quality that we have shown today. We deserved to lose," the furious Austrian admitted.
For Wharton and Guehi, tipped for England's World Cup squad this summer, this match represents the lowest point of their careers so far. The performance will raise questions for their potential suitors, most notably Manchester United, as the transfer window remains open.
