Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has dropped his clear-cut verdict on Michael Carrick’s scintillating start to life as interim head coach.
Michael Carrick made his sensational return to Old Trafford as interim boss last month after Ruben Amorim was sacked as Manchester United manager.
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The 44-year-old United legend has defied all expectations with his stunning start at the Red Devils, with Carrick’s side winning all four matches under him so far.
Carrick has claimed massive Premier League wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in January before United beat both Fulham and Tottenham in February.
The former Middlesbrough head coach’s reign at Old Trafford will last until the end of the 2025-26 season amid United’s hunt for Ruben Amorim’s long-term successor.
Why Wayne Rooney refuses to compare Michael Carrick with Man Utd legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Michael Carrick’s fairy-tale start as Manchester United interim head coach has immediately been compared with what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did at the club.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returned to Old Trafford as caretaker manager in 2018 after the Red Devils sacked Jose Mourinho during the 2018-19 Premier League season.
The 52-year-old Man Utd treble winner was to remain in charge until the end of the season, but a scintillating start saw him earn his role on a permanent basis in 2019.
Speaking on his podcast, Wayne Rooney explained why he does not compare Carrick’s run with what happened under fellow Red Devils legend Solskjaer.
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“Yeah, I think it comes from the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer job and I think Ole’s getting disrespected so much with people saying, ‘Oh, but it didn’t work out with Ole, so you can’t go Michael,’” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“Michael is a different character [from] Ollie. So, he is a different manager to Ole and Ole, actually, when we look back and look at how everyone’s done since [Sir] Alex Ferguson was manager, Ole was probably one of the better ones at what he done and, you know, we got to the Europa League final.
“Obviously, lost that [final] on penalties, I think he finished second and played some good stuff at times, so it was just the way it ended with Ole.”
Wayne Rooney’s feelings on Man Utd legend Michael Carrick amid the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer discussion
Carrick served in the United coaching staff of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before the former Red Devils head coach was sacked in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign.
United legend Rooney insisted that Carrick is expertly handling the situation and can step in and provide a much-needed buffer for his players when it is needed.
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“So, yeah, I think, listen, Michael is, you know, he’s a calming influence on everyone and he’ll just be doing his job and I’m sure he’d love the job at the end of the season if that’s the case,” he continued.
“But I think he’ll just go about his business quietly and let the players take all the plaudits when it’s gone well. And if it’s not going well, then I’m sure he’ll step in and try and take that pressure off the players.
“So, he’s at the minute, the way he started and the job he’s doing is fantastic. So hopefully that can continue.”
United have climbed into the Premier League top four under Carrick and the Red Devils are currently one point clear of fifth-place Chelsea in the league table.
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