Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United's players need to start fearing and respecting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his coaching staff.

And the former United striker has hit out at their social media antics and accused some of Solskjaer's players of always 'finding someone to hide behind' on and off the pitch.

Ex-England captain Rooney admits 'watching Manchester United struggle is always tough' following their dismal end to the season.

Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United's stars need to start fearing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Rooney's former Old Trafford team-mate Solskajer was appointed permanent manager in March after overseeing a stunning run of 14 wins in 19 games as caretaker.

But United's form has fallen off a cliff since then.

Having tasted defeat in the two games just before his full-time appointment, United went on to lose six of their final 10 games under Solskjaer winning just two.

As a result they finished the season well off the pace in sixth, a huge 32 points behind champions Manchester City, and failed to beat relegated duo Huddersfield and Cardiff in their final two games.

They also ended the season empty-handed, being dumped out of the FA Cup quarter-finals by Wolves and convincingly beaten by Barcelona 4-0 over two legs in the Champions League last eight having already suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup exit against Derby under Solskjaer's predecessor Jose Mourinho in September.

Rooney (left) was airing his views about his former club on The Wayne Rooney Podcast

Rooney's former United team-mate Solskajer was appointed permanent manager in March

When asked how his old club can turn things around, United's all-time top scorer, now playing for MLS side DC United, said on the The Wayne Rooney Podcast: 'I think the players need to fear someone. They need to fear Ole Gunnar. They need to fear Michael Carrick. They need to respect them but fear them also.

'The way the game has gone has changed, society has changed. You have got social media.

'You have got players losing a game and posting something on social media about their new clothing range, their new aftershave, whatever they're bringing out, which I find remarkable.

'When fans speak up on it and say "why are you posting that?" they always have the marketing people to blame [but] take responsibility.

'They work for you. Those marketing people work for you. I have people who do similar stuff for me and they never do anything without my instructions.

'If that is what you're doing, you're sitting at the top of that business. You have to take responsibility for them.

'These players almost always like to find someone to hide behind, whether that is on their social media or on the football pitch and that's what they are doing.'