Wayne Rooney has reinforced the most positive step that Ineos have taken during Michael Carrick’s time as interim and permanent manager of Manchester United.
Michael Carrick was brought back to Old Trafford as a short-term solution for the 2025-26 season after Ruben Amorim was sacked as Manchester United manager.
The 44-year-old United legend’s scintillating run as interim head coach, which began in January, led to his permanent succession to the Old Trafford hot seat in May.
Carrick was appointed the seventh permanent head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and is now looking ahead to his first full season in charge at the club.
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Wayne Rooney’s praise for Steve Holland highlights what Michael Carrick’s right-hand man brings to the table
Michael Carrick’s initial success at Old Trafford last season has been inextricably linked to the influence and impact of Red Devils assistant head coach Steve Holland.
Steve Holland was brought to the Premier League club back in January and the 56-year-old had not worked with Carrick ahead of his arrival at Manchester United.
However, the 56-year-old had been widely hailed for his work with Sir Gareth Southgate for England and Wayne Rooney sang his praise during the World Cup.
“I was obviously in the England squad at the start of Gareth Southgate’s reign. And this is where Steve Holland was brilliant,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“He had his in-game scenarios and changes. This is what we’re going to do if we’re 1-0 up, this is what we’re going to do if we’re 1-0 down.
“So, the players knew. What happened yesterday? The players didn’t know what to do.
“And there was no-one saying, you know, normally you have players on the pitch, who are almost like coaches.
“There was no one saying, ‘Right, get us up the pitch, get pressure on the ball, we’re going to be right in behind you.’”
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Ineos ensured that Steve Holland remained at Old Trafford to continue to build on the foundation laid for Man Utd
Rooney’s praise for Steve Holland showed how important the former England assistant manager was for a permanent Carrick reign to have any legs behind it.
Ineos wasted no time making sure that Holland maintained his role in the United coaching staff by handing him a contract to remain alongside Carrick at the club.
If it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it. And that perfectly summed up the immediate change that has been visible at Man Utd since Holland arrived at the club.
Now, Holland has a full pre-season to show what he can really bring to the table for Man Utd due to the time and preparation that he can put in with the first-team players.
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