MICHAEL CARRICK stopped a Manchester United training session early in order to “bottle up” how good his players had been.
The former midfield general, 44, has enjoyed a perfect start to life back at Old Trafford.
Having defeated rivals Manchester City 2-0, interim boss Carrick masterminded an excellent 3-2 triumph at Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Carrick’s old pal Wayne Rooney, 40, is a regular back at Carrington as his son Kai plays for the club’s academy.
Speaking about his mate’s impact back at United, Wazza said on his Wayne Rooney Show podcast: “There’s a calmness about the place. I was watching the under-16s on Saturday morning and they were all there again.
“Michael Carrick was there, Steve Holland, Jason Wilcox, all the coaches were there and so on, which you’ve heard me talking about a lot, that connection with the academy.
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“What I saw, not just from Michael, but the other coaches, Jonny Evans as well, is a real calmness and a belief.
“Michael told me how good the players were and he felt he had to stop the session early because they were that good and he wanted to bottle it up.
“And that’s proven today. An absolute incredible performance.”
On how Carrick perfectly fits the club’s culture, Rooney added: “You go back to the United DNA and United as a club and things you want to see.
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“I was there for 13 years, so [there are] things you want to see at that football club which I haven’t seen there for a long time. And I thought it was absolutely brilliant.
“You’ve got all the coaching staff all there watching the under-18s play. And then again, on a Saturday morning, they’re all there watching the under-16s play after the training session.
“These are all things which used to happen in the past and it makes a big difference.
“In my eyes they have taken a step towards getting the club back a little bit closer to where they used to be when the club was successful.
“I know how Michael works and I knew what he could do with this team. I am really pleased with the start he has made because he and his coaches have been criticised as well and have gone and competed with the best teams in the league.”
‘YOU’RE BEING SILLY NOW’
Rooney’s former team-mate Roy Keane was less enthusiastic about Carrick’s impact.
Asked by Sky Sports colleague Micah Richards if Carrick should land the job on a permanent basis, Keane said on Sunday evening: “No, you’re being silly now. He’s had two great performances but anybody can win two games.
“It’s what he does until the end of the season and even if they do get into fourth I still wouldn’t be convinced he’s the man for the job, absolutely not.
“They need a bigger and better manager but he’s got the opportunity.
“What a chance it is for him and you know what, he’s taken it. Fair play to him.”
Keane went on to double down, adding: “I think if United win every game from now until the end of the season, I still wouldn’t be giving him the job.
“I just think they need a bigger, more experienced manager, it’s as simple as that.”
