Wayne Rooney has stated that Tottenham Hotspur are now involved in a realistic relegation battle following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The result leaves Tottenham with only two wins in their last 16 Premier League matches.

This run has dropped Tottenham to 15th in the table, six points above 18th-placed West Ham United. West Ham have recently improved their form, recording three wins in their last four league games. Nottingham Forest are also identified as a team capable of collecting points, increasing competitive pressure in the lower half of the table.

Head coach Thomas Frank is operating with a significantly reduced squad due to injuries and suspensions. Against Manchester United, he had only 11 fit outfield players available. The situation worsened when defender Cristian Romero was sent off, ruling him out of the upcoming match against Newcastle. Full-back Destiny Udogie also sustained a new thigh injury shortly after returning from a previous layoff.

These constraints have intensified scrutiny of Tottenham’s trajectory. On his BBC show, Rooney argued that Tottenham’s current league position and form remove any justification for complacency. He stated that the club should focus on the risk of being drawn further into the lower end of the table rather than aiming upward.

Frank, appointed in June to replace Ange Postecoglou, has not yet converted European success into domestic consistency. Under his management, Tottenham have progressed to the Champions League last 16 and finished fourth in the league phase of that competition, but their Premier League campaign has been marked by repeated setbacks.

The disparity between European and domestic performance has led some supporters to question Frank’s suitability for the role. Rooney, however, has argued against another managerial change. He noted that Frank appears visibly affected by the demands of the job but attributed many of the club’s current problems to factors outside the manager’s direct control.

Rooney’s position is that the club’s leadership should support Frank, enforce stronger internal discipline, and acknowledge that, based on current data and form, Tottenham’s immediate priority is to avoid being drawn deeper into a relegation contest rather than to pursue higher league ambitions.