Much has been made about Michael Carrick’s system at Manchester United, the results and performances. But Wayne Rooney actually thinks it is more Carrick’s character that needs to change.
After drawing to Fulham, Gary Neville slammed Manchester United for what he labelled the worst performance that he had seen in his 45 years or so watching the club. Michael Carrick picked up the flak and now finds himself under pressure to improve things after this three-week break.
Carrick has a lot to solve at United, from the system to fitness to the squad selection. But for Wayne Rooney, there is another factor holding Carrick back from becoming a top-tier manager.
Wayne Rooney urges Michael Carrick to be nastier
The main criticism of Manchester United’s opening seven games this season is that they have been passive and lethargic both in and out of possession, looking like a side that isn’t well-drilled and doesn’t seem to care.
This is up to Carrick to solve. But speaking on the Stick to United podcast this week, Rooney has suggested that Carrick may need to become nastier to get these players in line and playing for him.
“He needs to be an _______. The best managers are _________. The best managers are nasty, they’re selfish. Alex Ferguson [was] nasty, really nice around the place, but on the big decisions, he was nasty, he was selfish, he was a gambler.
“He’d make big decisions and probably wasn’t sure if they were going to pay off or not. But he took that chance.[Jose] Mourinho, nasty. You’ve seen Guardiola, he gets rid of players, and you’re thinking why has he got rid of him? He doesn’t care because at the end of the day, it is you who’s going to suffer as the manager.
“I just hope Carrick sees that and starts saying, ‘you know what, I am going to be horrible, and I am going to be selfish’, because that’s the only way, I think, to manage at the top level.”
Rooney is a close friend of Carrick, and so you know he is speaking from a place of love. But it also showcases that currently, he isn’t confident in how Carrick has been performing or acting.
Carrick needs to be more brutal at Manchester United
Carrick, by all accounts, is a nice guy, and he came in last season as interim to settle an unhappy dressing room and did really well. But now that he is guiding the club long term, he needs to start making the tough decisions, and that all starts with his team selection.
There are no consequences for senior players having a bad game under Carrick. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Bryan Mbeumo have all been poor at various stages yet always retain their starting position.
Carrick needs to stop being mates with them and start holding players accountable, playing youngsters who deserve the chance instead, and bringing back competition for places.
He must also be nastier in getting rid of unwanted players, starting in January, and act like he is the boss. Because he is. Ruben Amorim’s one positive was how nasty he became, axing players he didn’t deem good enough, but with Carrick a soft touch has returned.
Perhaps Rooney should be brought in as a coach to lend a hand in this.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/XaIqS7d