Ten Hag’s side hosted Newcastle at Old Trafford, knowing anything other than three points would effectively confirm a record-low eighth-place Premier League finish.
Goals from Kobbie Mainoo, Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund were enough to hold off the visitors, who made a serious contest of it through Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall’s strikes.
United must now beat Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium – having lost their previous four meetings with the Seagulls – while hoping that Newcastle drop points at Brentford.
That outcome can only secure a maiden Conference League campaign. Victory against Manchester City in next weekend’s FA Cup final would book a place in the Europa League.
A failure to qualify for a second successive season with Champions League football is a considerable failure that has drawn scrutiny on Ten Hag and United’s players.
Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports
And after full-time, Rooney outlined his hopes for a ruthless exodus at Old Trafford in Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ first summer transfer window in charge of football operations.
“You have to build the team around Bruno [Fernandes], he’s the one player with quality, and then keep the young players. Then get rid of the rest,” Rooney brutally claimed on Sky Sports.
“It has to be a massive clear-out over the next couple of years. They need better players to compete in this league, to compete with Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, they need better players.”
United will reportedly listen to offers for all first-team players this summer, except Andre Onana and young trio Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund.
Rooney’s desire aligns with such a stance, although he is also keen for Fernandes to stay put amid intensifying speculation surrounding his future.
Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial bid farewell after the Newcastle triumph. They will leave as free agents – likely alongside Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans and Sofyan Amrabat – when their contracts expire in June.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Donny van de Beek, Hannibal Mejbri, Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood are among the several players expected to depart.
No European football for the first time in a decade would benefit INEOS in overseeing an exodus, with far fewer games requiring a smaller squad. But many would prefer Conference League football to nothing.