Wayne Rooney has warned Michael Carrick that he needs results now and cannot wait for another transfer window to fix Manchester United's problems. The Red Devils legend also criticised United's summer business, which saw them fail in their search to bolster their defence.
Slow Start to the Season
Carrick's side have mustered just four points from their first three games of the Premier League season, conceding six goals in the process. United began the campaign with a shock 2-0 loss away to newly promoted Hull before thrashing Ipswich 5-2 at Old Trafford in their second outing.
Off the back of Sunday's late 2-2 draw with Everton, in which the Red Devils threw away the lead twice, Rooney is concerned for his ex-team-mate.
Rooney's Warning
"If you're manager of Manchester United you know the pressure which comes with the job and the time now you're not getting much time in the job," the former striker explained on the Stick to United podcast. "You have to push as hard as you can even harder to get players in because you know you don't want to be sitting here in six months, 12 months' time, saying 'You know what? I should have'.
"Do we want to win the Champions League? Of course we do. But in terms of this process we're going through to try and get back to that, we're going to have to accept we're not quite at that level yet. Arsenal have been through this process over the last five years with [Mikel] Arteta and you've seen the progress each year."
Rooney went on to say: "I know Michael's come out and said he's happy with the players they've got in. I don't think any manager's happy. He's going to have to come out and say the right things. Of course… every manager does that. But he hasn't got time to wait for next year. He can't sit there and go 'Well, you know what? I'll wait till next year,' then I'll have my defence sorted. You're getting more and more American owners who want success straight away."
Concern for Fernandes
Rooney also claimed that United captain Bruno Fernandes won't be happy with the club's decision to only sign three midfielders and a No.2 goalkeeper in the summer window. "There is nothing in there which is saying to me now these players are going to take Man United to the next level," he continued.
"I love Bruno. I think he's brilliant. He must be thinking 'Right, please bring me some help. I'm doing everything I can. Help me'. And I don't think the club have done that with the signings. You're not sitting there saying you've got these four players we should be winning the Premier League. You're sitting there saying these players need more help than what they've been getting."
Rooney added: "We're Man United. We've won so many Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues, whatever. The fans will still be thinking that's what we want. But, realistically, they're not there."
