Wayne Rooney’s Michael Carrick stance after ‘don’t be fooled’ warning | Football | Sport
Notable wins against Manchester City and Arsenal were followed by further victories against Fulham and Tottenham, prior to a 1-1 draw at West Ham last week. This unbeaten streak has seen the side rise to fourth in the Premier League table, putting them in a strong position for Champions League football next season. Speaking on The Overlap’s Fan Debate, Rooney suggested United’s next permanent manager might already be at the club.
He said: “We’ve been there and tried different managers – [Jose] Mourinho, [Louis] van Gaal, [Erik] ten Hag and [Ruben] Amorim – and for me Carrick makes sense. Not because we’ve played together and we’re friends, but because he is a real calming influence.
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“Having someone there who knows the club and cares for the club makes a big difference. Michael is managing the whole squad and managing them well.”
Rooney went on to emphasise Carrick’s influence across the entire team. He said: “The players who are starting, they’re fine, you don’t have to manage them, but the other lads – we’ve seen the impact on [Matheus] Cunha, [Benjamin] Sesko, [Harry] Maguire, [Lisandro] Martinez. He’s having an impact on the whole squad and football club.
“Sometimes we’re quick to overlook what’s right there in front of you and say we’ve got this manager from Turkey or from Spain, who is going to come in and do this, when they have no interest in the football club. At least [with Carrick] this will give the foundations for the club to keep building, when in two or three years’ time the infrastructure will be back at the club.”
Such comments reveal Rooney’s evident respect for Carrick in the dugout. This sentiment isn’t a new feeling either, as the 40-year-old told supporters upon his appointment that the caretaker boss would prove to be a pleasant surprise.
Speaking on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show podcast, the former United star said: “Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but don’t be fooled by how calm he looks. He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he’d be going in there now with full focus.”
Carrick has evidently made a positive impression within the dressing room, winning the Premier League Manager of the Month in January and receiving considerable praise from his first-team players. Maguire said: “I had no surprises when he came in and the way that he spoke in his first meeting and the way the sessions have gone.
“And I do think he’s got a great, great staff with him. He takes most sessions. He still does demos in passing drills and he still bangs it through the lines like he’s still got it.”
Speaking to TNT Sports, club captain Bruno Fernandes added: “Michael came in with the right ideas of giving the players the responsibility, but also some freedom to take the responsibility on the pitch during the decisions that are needed.”
