Manchester United have made an indifferent start to the 2026/27 season with pressure beginning to mount on Michael Carrick
Wayne Rooney has discussed Manchester United's difficult start in the Premier League.
Wayne Rooney has discussed Manchester United's difficult start in the Premier League(Image: Getty Images)
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Wayne Rooney hopes Michael Carrick can turn around his Manchester United fortunes but thinks the former midfielder was let down in the transfer window. United go into the international break with just one win in their opening five Premier League matches but without a triumph in their last four domestic outings.
Matheus Cunha's deflected strike ensured that they left Craven Cottage with a point after Lisandro Martinez's own-goal gifted Alvaro Arbeloa's side the lead. Carrick has faced external pressure over his position in the Old Trafford hotseat, despite earning the role on a permanent basis after a phenomenal interim period where he guided United to Champions League qualification.
The 45-year-old faces an important international break where he will need to implement fresh ideas to help to club push on in the next phase of the Premier League season. And Rooney hopes he can change the club's fortunes.
He told talkSPORT: "He [Carrick] knows what's in for there and listen, you always want more as a manager, I'm sure he would have wanted more from the transfer window, but he's left with what he's left with.
"I think the Premier League has got better, there's better teams in there. But if you don't win at Man United, or at any club, at the minute it's very tough, so I hope he turns it around."
United bolstered their ranks during the summer transfer window reserving the majority of their spending for midfielders. Andrey Santos arrived for £48million, potentially rising to £50m from Premier League rivals Chelsea, while Youri Tielemans arrived after his £35m release clause was triggered.
However, many felt that other areas of the United squad were left wanting particularly in attacking and defensive areas. Rooney believes the recruitment team let the manager down.
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He said: "There's always going to be pressure, Michael knows that. If you're not winning football games at Man United, then that pressure is there if you don't win one game.
"So, it hasn't been the ideal start to the season… there are certain things which I felt the club had to do before the window shut, in bringing players in… the squad is a bit weak.
"He's got to find a way to get more and the best out of these players to get up the table after this international break… I think the break has come at the right time.
"He's shown that he can get results out of this group of players. They have to get their head down and work and hopefully get some better results.