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Wayne Rooney thinks Michael Carrick has now seen ‘clear’ Man Utd issue from Sunderland draw

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England icon Wayne Rooney dropped his instant verdict on what Michael Carrick must now be thinking after Manchester United’s encounter with Sunderland.

The Red Devils walked away with a Premier League point on Saturday afternoon following a disappointing performance against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Michael Carrick’s side struggled to sway the tempo of the match in their favour and Sunderland were mainly dominant over Manchester United across the 90 minutes.

However, United and Sunderland played out a lacklustre 0-0 scoreline at the weekend, with the Red Devils remaining third in the Premier League table.

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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United at the Stadium of Light in 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom.
Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Wayne Rooney’s telling reaction to Man Utd’s performance against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light

Michael Carrick was forced to rotate his squad for Saturday’s 0-0 draw after being without key Manchester United first-team players, including Benjamin Sesko.

The Red Devils delivered an underwhelming performance under United legend Carrick, who has only two Premier League matches left in his interim reign.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Wayne Rooney was deeply critical of the Premier League display that the Red Devils put on against Sunderland away from home.

“Manchester United’s performance was flat,” he said, as per BBC Sport.

“It felt like an ‘end-of-season’ game for both teams.

“But did the players that came in today for United do enough to prove that they should be at the club next season? Probably not.”

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Wayne Rooney identifies the Man Utd problem that Michael Carrick has now experienced after the Sunderland draw

Casemiro was also absent for the Premier League match on Saturday, which left Carrick with limited United substitutes to turn to amid the Red Devils’ performance.

Rooney added that ex-Man Utd and England teammate Carrick will now be aware of the “big investment” that the Red Devils need to add much-needed squad depth.

“It will be clear to Michael Carrick that there has to be some big investment in the summer for them to compete in the Champions League,” he continued.

Carrick secured United’s return to the Champions League ahead of the Sunderland match after the Red Devils’ 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford last week.