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The Red Devils’ all-time leading scorer delivered a blunt criticism of Michael Carrick, putting further pressure on the current Manchester United manager.

The start of the season has raised concerns at Manchester United, and one of the club’s greatest legends has decided to speak his mind. Wayne Rooney believes Michael Carrick does not have much time to turn things around at the Red Devils, particularly after a transfer window that, in Rooney’s view, left significant gaps in the squad.

THE TOUGH “WARNING” FROM THE “BAD BOY” TO THE CURRENT MANAGER

Rooney did not directly call for Carrick to be fired, but he did issue a strong warning about the manager’s future.

The former striker pointed out that managers at major clubs now have far less time to deliver results and that Manchester United’s boss cannot afford to wait until the next transfer window to address the team’s problems.

“If you’re the Manchester United manager, you know the pressure that comes with the job and that you don’t have much time to do it now,” Rooney said on “Stick to United.”

“You have to go above and beyond, even more so, to get players because you know you don’t want to be sitting here in six or 12 months saying, ‘You know what? I should have done that.’”

“Do we want to win the Champions League? Of course we do. But in this process we’re going through to try to get back to that level, we have to accept that we’re not there yet. Arsenal have gone through this process over the last five years with Mikel Arteta, and you’ve seen the progress year after year,” he added.

The numbers explain some of the concern. Manchester United have collected four points from their first three matches of the 2026-27 Premier League season, including a defeat to Hull City, a big win over Ipswich Town and a 2-2 draw against Everton. Carrick’s side have also conceded six goals during that opening stretch.

For Rooney, pressure is simply part of the job. The former Manchester United star believes the club’s American owners and hierarchy are looking for immediate results, meaning Carrick will have to find solutions with the squad he already has.

THE TRANSFER WINDOW, ROONEY’S BIGGEST CONCERN

One of Wayne Rooney’s main criticisms is aimed at Manchester United’s sporting strategy. The club brought in Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba to strengthen midfield, as well as adding a second goalkeeper, but failed to reinforce the defense as Carrick had hoped.

Rooney believes that situation has left the manager in a difficult position: he needs to compete immediately with a squad that still has significant weaknesses.

“I know Michael has said he’s happy with the players they have. I don’t think any manager would be happy. He’ll have to say the right thing. Of course he will... all managers do. But he doesn’t have time to wait until next year. He can’t just sit there and say, ‘Well, you know what? I’ll wait until next year and then I’ll have the defense sorted.’ There are more and more American owners who want success immediately.”

The concern also extends to Bruno Fernandes. In Rooney’s view, the Portuguese captain needs more support if the team is going to make the competitive leap demanded by the club’s history.

“There’s nothing there that makes me think these players are going to take Manchester United to the next level. I love Bruno. I think he’s brilliant. He must be thinking, ‘Please, bring me some help. I’m doing everything I can. Help me.’ And I don’t think the club has done that with the signings. You can’t say, ‘With these four players, we should be winning the Premier League.’”

MANCHESTER UNITED MUST RESPOND NOW

Rooney’s message comes at a crucial moment for Manchester United, with the club facing a demanding week. The team is preparing for its return to the Champions League, where it will face Sabah FK before taking on Manchester City in the derby.

Carrick, meanwhile, has defended the project and stressed that the team needs time to establish itself. However, the 2-2 draw against Everton raised fresh questions after United twice surrendered the lead.

For now, Michael Carrick remains in charge of Manchester United, but Wayne Rooney’s warning adds even more pressure on the manager. Results will need to come soon, or the debate surrounding his future at Old Trafford could escalate quickly.

“We’re Manchester United. We’ve won so many Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues, whatever. The fans are always going to think that’s what we want. But realistically, it’s not like that.”