Rooney Hails Two 'Excellent' United Stars as Carrick's Simple Tweak Restores Old Trafford DNA

Manchester United's old guard are understandably purring after witnessing Carrick's side dismantle Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Wayne Rooney particularly effusive in his assessment of what unfolded.

The legendary Red Devil has reserved special commendation for two players whilst crediting interim boss Carrick with orchestrating the club's standout performance of the 2025/26 campaign. Whether this display can be sustained over the remaining 16 fixtures as United chase Champions League football remains the pressing question.

Carrick's appointment as short-term replacement for Ruben Amorim has yielded immediate dividends, transforming United into a side that finally resembles a functioning football team. The manager's formula proved straightforward: tinker with the shape and demand that his players "run and work hard."

Speaking on his BBC Sport podcast, Rooney explained the tactical shift: "What Michael has done with the team wasn't rocket science. It was a simple tweak in terms of formation. Everyone's been talking about Ruben Amorim's back three and how it suited Man United, so he changed that."

The former United skipper was particularly taken with the application on display. "I thought Amad and Dorgu on the wings were excellent, the work-rate they put in to help the full-backs out and they got into a compact shape, which I spoke about, and hit Man City on the break."

Rooney observed a palpable shift in atmosphere emanating from both the pitch and the stands. "You can feel it from the fans as well, the difference in energy from the team, the confidence, the belief, the composure on the ball at the right times. It was night and day from what we've been seeing."

The performance, he suggested, epitomised what United's identity should represent: "When we talk about Man United's DNA, that was it. Work hard, run for your team-mate, get back into shape, be hard to play against – and then when you get an opportunity run forward."

For supporters, particularly those who've endured a torrid spell since Ferguson's departure, Saturday represented something approaching cathartic. Rooney reflected on the generational shift: "I think the fans felt something yesterday. They got a taste of what it was like under Sir Alex Ferguson. Some of the young fans who have been through a terrible time over the last 10, 13 years, really, since Fergie left."

He continued: "They haven't witnessed a team perform that well, with that energy and that belief in their fighting and being brave with the ball, but also being resilient and tough to play against. Them fans felt that yesterday and hopefully that's a glimpse of what we've got coming in the next 16 games."