Rafael believes that his Manchester United teammates should shoulder some responsibility for the sacking of former manager David Moyes last month.
Moyes endured an ill-fated first season in charge at Old Trafford and parted company with the Red Devils less than a year after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson.
United ultimately finished seventh in the Premier League table, and the Brazilian says that the playing staff deserve some of the blame for the short-lived nature of the Scot's tenure.
"The year was not normal. I had been there for six years, I was a champion three times, runners-up twice," he told Globo Esporte.
"I think this is football, we changed manager after 26 years and that affects any team. Each manager has his own style.
"The players are to blame too, the things changed off the field, now we have to try again next season."
Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has since been appointed as the club's new manager and will take charge after next month's World Cup.
