Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov were on the same wavelength over a standout problem from Manchester United’s display against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are 13th in the Premier League table after a disappointing start to the campaign under Red Devils head coach Michael Carrick.
Michael Carrick has overseen one win, a draw and two defeats from Man Utd’s opening four Premier League matches, as well as a victory in the Champions League.
United struggled to break down Manchester City on Sunday in the first Manchester derby of the season, despite Enzo Maresca’s men playing with 10 men in the tie.
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Dimitar Berbatov was left deeply critical about Man Utd’s struggles in the final third against Man City
Erling Haaland was the difference-maker after the Manchester City striker broke the deadlock with a controversial second-half opener against Manchester United.
City maintained their lead over United in the second half to ensure that Enzo Maresca’s side kept the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
Michael Carrick’s men played well against their rivals in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat, but the United legend watched his side disappoint with their lack of clinical finishing.
Speaking after the Man Utd vs Man City match, former Red Devils striker Dimitar Berbatov criticised Carrick’s men for not “threatening enough” in the final third.
“United lost the game, which automatically means they didn’t do enough,” he told Premier League Productions, as per the Premier League’s official website.
“They hit the post here and there, and had chances here and there, but they weren’t threatening enough. They did do enough to threaten the class of [Gianluigi] Donnarumma.”
READ MORE: Benjamin Sesko vs Man City has left Man Utd fans to send same demand to Michael Carrick over his ‘logic’
Wayne Rooney is present during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Knockout Phase Play Off 1st Leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, on February 11, 2025.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Wayne Rooney echoed Dimitar Berbatov’s sentiments about Man Utd’s attacking quality in the 1-0 loss to Man City
Wayne Rooney insisted that former United and England teammate Carrick will not be happy about the Red Devils’ start to the 2026-27 campaign at Old Trafford.
However, United’s all-time leading scorer added that the Red Devils were a “bit toothless” when it came to their opportunities against Man City on Sunday.
“United are already eight points behind City and Michael Carrick will be disappointed [with] how they’ve started, no doubt about that,” Rooney told BBC Sport.
“There have been some good moments, but one win from four league matches tells its own story.
“When the transfer window closed, I felt United still needed better players, to not only to provide competition for places and cover across all competitions, but to come on in games and provide that extra quality and change games.
“You were just waiting for someone to be brought on and make an impact today, but you looked at the bench and there weren’t many attacking threats to call on. It was all a bit toothless.”
United’s Carabao Cup campaign will now begin on Wednesday evening, as the Red Devils will welcome Brighton to Old Trafford for their third-round fixture.