Rooney Hints at Ferguson’s Legacy Being Revived by Carrick

Young Fans Experience Ferguson’s Winning Spirit

Wayne Rooney expressed that the younger supporters of Manchester United witnessed a “hint of the Sir Alex Ferguson era” during their recent 2-0 victory against Manchester City. He conveyed his optimism for the future under interim coach Michael Carrick.

Carrick, aged 44, stepped in as the interim head coach for Manchester United on Tuesday, following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu secured the win against Pep Guardiola’s squad in a lively match at Old Trafford.

Rooney, who won five Premier League titles during his time with Carrick at United, noted a noticeable shift in the atmosphere among the home crowd since Carrick took the helm.

“I wasn’t at the ground; I was inside the BBC studios, but did you notice how different the atmosphere was? Even as he [Michael Carrick] walked onto the pitch before the match, he attempted to energize the crowd,” Rooney remarked in a recent episode of The Wayne Rooney Show.

“You could sense that the fans experienced something special yesterday. They caught a glimpse of what it was like during Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure. Many young fans have endured a difficult stretch over the past decade or so since Fergie departed.”

“They’ve not seen a team perform with such enthusiasm and determination to play bravely with the ball while also being resilient and challenging to play against. The fans felt that energy yesterday, and I hope this is just a preview of what’s to come in the next 16 games.”

Best Performance in Years from Manchester United

Following a goalless first half, Mbeumo, back from the Africa Cup of Nations, put United ahead, with Dorgu adding a second goal just 11 minutes later.

Rooney labeled it the “best performance” he had witnessed from United in a considerable time.

“What Michael has initiated wasn’t anything revolutionary. It was a straightforward adjustment to the formation,” the former England forward stated.

“There has been much conversation around Ruben Amorim’s three-man defense, which was thought to benefit Manchester United. Carrick altered that, but if you reference our previous podcast where I discussed what United needed, it’s really simple: run and put in the effort. It was so refreshing to see the players embody that.”

“I thought Amad and Dorgu excelled on the wings, their work rate in supporting the full-backs was commendable, and they maintained a compact formation, which I had highlighted, allowing them to counter-attack Manchester City.”

After Amorim’s exit on January 5, Rooney remarked that United’s triumph over City was “a world apart from what we’ve observed previously” under the Portuguese manager.

Rooney observed, “You could feel the fans’ difference in energy, the team’s confidence, faith, and composure when necessary. The change was dramatic compared to what we had been seeing, making it a wonderful day. It reminded me of what we associate with Manchester United’s DNA — work hard, play for your teammate, restore shape, and be tough to play against, then seize the chance to advance.”