Rooney calls for Carrick to get permanent Man Utd job

Wayne Rooney has called on Manchester United to give Michael Carrick the manager’s job permanently.

The 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday took United clear in third place in the Premier League.

Since he was named head coach for the remainder of the season in January, Carrick has guided his side to seven wins in nine games.

Across his two spells in charge, only Sven Goran Eriksson, Carlo Ancelotti and Manuel Pellegrini have eclipsed his record of six straight home wins at the start of their first Premier League job.

United chiefs want to assess all options before making a decision in the summer and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to be drawn on Carrick’s future when he was asked about it in Shanghai before this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Ratcliffe did say Carrick was doing a good job and Rooney – who was on holiday with his former United and England team-mate when Ruben Amorim was sacked – has no doubts what should happen next.

“100% he should [get the job],” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I knew this was going to happen with Michael Carrick. I know him very well. I know his character and his personality.

“It needed a calm head, but someone who knows the place. The players needed some love, and he has given them that.

“We have seen the players play with more quality, more together as a team, and they look like a very strong team. Why would you change?”

Typically, Carrick would not be drawn on Rooney’s comments. Neither is he getting distracted by the “noise” around his time in charge.

“There’s not that much noise, is there?” he said. “I don’t mean Wayne. I just mean in general.

“It’s only noise if you listen to it. It doesn’t affect me one bit, to be honest.”

Carrick confirmed he had spoken to chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox after the Villa win, but says his sole focus is Friday’s trip to Bournemouth.

“I’m in this position at the moment, doing the best I can, and I’m loving it, obviously,” Carrick said.

“But whatever’s going to happen is going happen. It’s all pretty calm.

Captain Bruno Fernandes created United’s first two goals against Villa.

The Portugal playmaker’s near-post corner was headed in by Casemiro to give United the lead.

Then, after Ross Barkley equalised, Fernandes threaded a pass through the Villa defence for Matheus Cunha who slotted home to give United a lead they would not lose.

Fernandes now has 100 assists in all competitions for United, becoming only the fourth player – after Rooney, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham – to achieve that in the Premier League era.

In addition, his 16 league assists this term have eclipsed Beckham’s tally of 15 from 1999-2000 as the most by any United player in a single campaign.

“Bruno has done it for a long period of time now, making the difference in big moments, whether he’s scoring or creating,” said Carrick.

“He’s got a great connection with Casemiro, which is the bit you can’t coach.”

There has been talk about Fernandes leaving United in the summer, when his contract will have one year left to run.

The 31-year-old is keen to compete at the highest level, so Champions League qualification could prove crucial.

The same is also true of veteran Casemiro, who has now scored seven goals this season, including six headers – at least two more than anyone else in the league.

The 34-year-old repeatedly pointed to his badge as he celebrated his second-half goal in front of the Stretford End.

In response, they sang “one more year”, something that echoed around Old Trafford at the final whistle.

Casemiro has already confirmed he will leave United in the summer, when his huge contract expires.

Ratcliffe has vowed to drive down salaries, and it is likely the former Real Madrid man will leave for either the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer after the World Cup, when he is due to captain Brazil.

Although some fans want him to stay at the club, Carrick cast doubt on that happening.

“The fact it was decided makes things a little bit easier,” he said. “Everyone understands the situation.

“It was a nice moment at the end there with the supporters and having that connection and the respect. He’ll enjoy that one.

“No disrespect to Casemiro, he’s been fantastic. He’s been a big, big, big player for us and been important in the dressing room.

“But I think this is a club where players come and go – some bigger and some are maybe more important than others at different times.