Despite the manager's fighting talk, club legendWayne Rooney has urged supporters to remain grounded. While acknowledging the shift in atmosphere, Rooney believes jumping straight into a title fight with Manchester City and Arsenal might be a step too far in the immediate future. He suggests that another top-four finish and a domestic cup win would represent realistic progression for the upcoming campaign. "We all want them to win the league, but you have to be realistic... I think it’s going to be very difficult, but trying to get an improvement," Rooney said.
Nevertheless, Carrick remains focused on the highest possible ceiling, stating: "We have a huge responsibility here to win and play exciting football. That never changes, and we should always be striving to compete for the biggest trophies. There are steps to take, but we are in a good place to take them."