The former United captain says the senior players must do more in the leading their younger teammates.
"I would say you need five players in a dressing room that can lead a team," Rooney told The Overlap.
"One thing I would say with Manchester United now is, look at the team and you're still asking questions about who the leader is. I know Bruno (Fernandes) is captain, but who are the leaders there.
"I said this a few weeks ago, when Marcus Rashford was getting stick for his body language, I think he has always been like that.
"I don't think he has ever been a big talker on the pitch. When he is going through a tough moment, or you want him to work a little bit harder, that is where the senior players have got to demand that from him. That's the one thing I'd say that I don't see.
"Every time Manchester United concede a goal their heads go down too quickly and you almost think there is no way they're getting back into the game."