Revealed: What Michael Carrick told Wayne Rooney in pre-Arsenal phone call that predicted Man United’s stunning win – as old team-mate gives details of ‘what he’s seen’ behind the scenes

Michael Carrick revealed just how ready he thought his Manchester United players were for their clash with Arsenal in a candid conversation with former team-mate Wayne Rooney ahead of kick-off, the Red Devils legend has shared. 

Man United‘s interim manager has a blemish-free record after taking the reins from despatched ex-boss Ruben Amorim this month, having accrued six points from beating title chasers Manchester City and Arsenal. 

The team’s smash-and-grab away win at the Emirates boosted the side to fourth in the Premier League standings, as well as showing off the increased fight within the visitors’ ranks. 

But this would have come as no surprise to the player’s manager, as Rooney revealed after the final whistle. 

‘Michael told me how good the players were and he felt he had to stop the (training) session early because they were that good and he wanted to bottle it up,’ Rooney shared on The Wayne Rooney Show. 

 ‘And that’s proven today. An absolute incredible performance.’

Man United have won six points in their last two league outings against title-challenging rivals

Rooney previously rubbed shoulders with Carrick at Old Trafford on Friday, with the Man United head coach taking in his second under-18s match of the week. 

While his predecessor Amorim failed to take in a youth game during his time in the dugout, Carrick has already demonstrated an interest in keeping a close eye on the academy ranks – and had a chance to watch Kai Rooney pick up his first minutes at the storied ground. 

Rooney, who took in his son’s performance alongside wife Coleen, underscored how the former Man United captain’s awareness of the club’s DNA would likely pay dividends as the team looks to move on from the tumult of the Amorim era. 

‘There’s a calmness about the place,’ Rooney continued. ‘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.

‘What I saw, not just from Michael, but the other coaches, Johnny Evans as well, is a real calmness and a belief.

‘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.’

Carrick and Rooney (in the baseball cap) took in an under-18s match together where the latter’s son Kai made his first minutes at Old Trafford

Carrick’s side’s performance in the capital on Sunday evening has even convinced some of his other former team-mates that he should remain in contention for the job on a permanent basis. 

Rio Ferdinand claimed that it was ‘mad talk’ to say that six points against Man City and Arsenal did not burnish his credentials in any way, after Roy Keane had on Sunday night called it ‘silly’ to suggest there weren’t ‘bigger and better names’ for Man United. 

‘Where the f-,’ Ferdinand said, before stopping himself. ‘Where do people get this? 

‘The disrespect is unbelievable. For someone to say, “no matter what this person does, he doesn’t deserve to be given the keys to be given the keys to Man United.” 

‘On what grounds are you saying that? That’s mad talk.’

Carrick will look to build on the team’s purple patch next week against Fulham, who have themselves risen to within four points of the top four in seventh after defeating Brighton on Saturday.