‘When rather than if’: Rooney makes definitive Man Utd prediction this morning that’s sure to intrigue supporters

How Carrick’s win over LFC may have convinced INEOS he’s the right candidate

The result marked a first league double for United over the Merseyside outfit in a decade, while also confirming that Champions League football would be returning to Old Trafford next season.

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Qualifying for Europe’s elite competition was the one task assigned to Carrick when he took charge in mid-January, given United had already exited both cup competitions at the earliest possible stages.

Still, it hasn’t by any means been an easy feat. Even now, with three games to go, teams all the way down to 13th can and are still vying to finish in a UCL place.

With three games to play, Newcastle United can still mathematically get Champions League football or be relegated from the Premier League 📈📉 pic.twitter.com/kYqA588BUG

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 4, 2026

It’s also worth factoring into account that, aside from beating the reigning league winners Liverpool, Carrick has also orchestrated wins against the top two in the division: Arsenal and Manchester City.

The latter have since won the League Cup and are in the FA Cup final, while the former are on course to claim their first title in almost 22 years and, last night, advanced to the Champions League final – yet neither could come out on top against United.

8 – Michael Carrick is only the sixth manager – and first English manager – to win 8+ of his opening 9 home games in the @premierleague, and first since Antonio Conte in 2016-17 (also 8/9). Compelling. pic.twitter.com/O5fRyUxj9E

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 3, 2026

Alas, it comes as no surprise that the ex-midfielder has so much backing across the fanbase.

Wins	Draws	Losses	Total points	Points per match
14	2	2	32	2.29

Carrick’s record since joining United for his second stint, courtesy of Transfermarkt

What Rooney had to say about Carrick’s future

His former teammate Rooney rallied behind him once again this morning when speaking with BBC Sport, saying: “It’s when [Carrick gets the job] rather than if, I think.”

He continued: “Just because he’s a young, English lad, and sometimes that’s not always the right way to look [when scouting a manager] in many people’s eyes, but Michael Carrick is a clever person.

“He’s a really good coach, and I think he could lead this team for the next, you know, however long he wants, if he gets it right.”

Wayne Rooney says it’s a case of “when rather than if” Michael Carrick gets the Manchester United job permanently 🤝🔜 pic.twitter.com/64bakOSPSh

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 6, 2026