Wayne Rooney has claimed that Michael Carrick should “100 per cent” be given the permanent Manchester United head coach position. Carrick has done an incredible job since taking over on an interim basis and now has Rooney’s full backing despite some big-name managers being linked with the post.
Rooney, 40, made his position crystal clear on Carrick after United’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday. The Reds were once again good value for the three points at Old Trafford, with Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all scoring to tighten their grip on a top-four place.
It’s a result that has boosted United’s prospects of achieving a Champions League comeback, with Chelsea and Liverpool also slipping up over the weekend. The Red Devils are currently third, five points above fifth-place Liverpool and six clear of Chelsea in sixth. As England are set to receive an extra spot in Europe’s elite club tournament for next season, United require a maximum of 18 points from their remaining eight fixtures to guarantee a top-five finish.
Should Carrick clinch the deal and deliver United’s Champions League return, he would hand himself a solid opportunity of securing the role on a permanent basis in the summer, despite links to Oliver Glasner, Roberto de Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann, Andoni Iraola and Luis Enrique.
And Rooney is no doubt about who should get the job. Speaking following Sunday’s win over Villa, Rooney was questioned about whether Carrick ought to be awarded the head coach position full-time this summer, to which the ex-United striker responded: “100 per cent he should.”
He added: “I knew this was gonna happen with Michael Carrick, I know him very well, I know his character and personality,” Rooney added. “It needed a calm head, but someone who knows the place and the players needed some love and he’s give them that. We’re seeing the players play with more quality, we’re seeing them more together as a team and they look like a very strong team.
