Rooney claims Carrick the ‘right choice’ for Manchester United
The Red Devils will be led by their former midfielder until the end of the season
Wayne Rooney believes Michael Carrick is the right appointment to stabilise Manchester United after the club confirmed the former midfielder will take charge as caretaker head coach until the end of the season.
United announced Carrick’s short-term promotion on Tuesday following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, with the 44-year-old tasked with steadying a side that has struggled to adapt to his tactics.
Rooney, who played alongside Carrick 366 times at Old Trafford and won five Premier League titles with him, feels the decision makes sense given the current landscape.
“It is probably the obvious choice really because I do not think there are any top, top managers available at the minute,” Rooney said on the BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.
“I think it is the right choice at this moment in time. It is a difficult task of course. Where Manchester United are at the minute is not a good place and Michael has to go in and steady the ship.”
Carrick’s appointment does little to quiet speculation about who United may target on a permanent basis in the summer.
Former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who left Real Madrid earlier this week, and England head coach Thomas Tuchel have both been linked with the role. Rooney believes Tuchel would be his preferred option, but accepts that the situation may evolve.
“Alonso did incredible at Leverkusen and I think you have more chance of him sitting and waiting and hoping with [Liverpool manager Arne] Slot,” Rooney said.
“Tuchel is the one for me. He knows the Premier League, has won trophies. He is doing well at England. Time will tell.”
Carrick knows the club intimately, having made 464 appearances for United during a 12-year playing career. He also had a brief spell as caretaker manager in 2021, winning two matches and drawing one, before leaving following the arrival of Ralf Rangnick. Rooney believes Carrick’s calm exterior should not be mistaken for a lack of authority.
“Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but do not be fooled by how calm he looks,” Rooney said. “He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he would be going in there now with full focus.”
United currently sit seventh in the Premier League, having won just one of their past six matches, and Carrick’s first test comes on Saturday when rivals Manchester City visit Old Trafford.
“It is a massive game for the club, for Michael,” Rooney said. “I think what he will do is bring a bit of calmness, a bit of grit to the game, which I think is needed. It is going to be very difficult, Manchester City are obviously a top team, and it will be difficult to get anything out of it even at Old Trafford.
“But as we have seen over the years, Manchester United, if they do turn up, can win the game and hopefully that happens on Saturday.”
Carrick has moved quickly to assemble his coaching staff, bringing in former England assistant Steve Holland as his number two, alongside Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion. Rooney believes Holland’s influence could prove important in tightening United up defensively and tactically.
“I was really impressed with him tactically at England, how he worked and his organisation,” Rooney said.
“Steve Holland did all the training, Gareth Southgate did not really, he would be more the manager and Steve took all the sessions. I think what they will bring, Michael and Steve, is an organisation to Manchester United and I am sure we will see on Saturday that they will be harder to beat.”