Wayne Rooney didn't hold back after Manchester United's lackluster 0-0 draw with Sunderland, calling the performance "flat" and questioning whether some players deserve to stay at the club.

Just a week after an electrifying display against Liverpool, United looked a shadow of themselves at the weekend. They were actually fortunate to escape with a point, thanks largely to goalkeeper Senne Lammens' heroics. The Red Devils did have one golden chance in the dying seconds when Matheus Cunha found himself unmarked in the box, but he fired straight at the Sunderland keeper.

Still, it wasn't all bad news. With Liverpool and Aston Villa also dropping points, United now need just a single point from their final two matches to secure third place.

Rooney, United's all-time leading scorer, was analyzing the game on BBC's Match of the Day and didn't mince words. "Manchester United's performance was flat. It felt like an 'end-of-season' game for both teams," he said.

Several fringe players got starts, including Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, but they failed to make an impact. Rooney posed a pointed question: "Did the players that came in today for United do enough to prove that they should be at the club next season? Probably not."

The former United legend, who played alongside current manager Michael Carrick, believes this match serves as a wake-up call. "It will be clear to Michael Carrick that there has to be some big investment in the summer for them to compete in the Champions League," Rooney added.

For United fans, this performance is a reminder that while the team is close to securing Champions League football, there's still plenty of work to be done in the transfer window.