Wayne Rooney has suggested Manchester United could finish above Manchester City within the Premier League after their resurgence continued against Aston Villa.
United clinched a vital victory over top-four rivals Villa on Sunday, beating Unai Emery’s side 3-1 due to goals from Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
The impressive win leaves Manchester United with a three-point cushion in third and just seven points behind local rivals Manchester City with eight games remaining.
United were outside of the Champions League places on the time of Ruben Amorim’s sacking in January but now look certain to qualify for Europe’s top club competition next season.
The Red Devils have been revitalised under caretaker manager Michael Carrick, taking 22 points from nine games since his return to Old Trafford – the most effective return from any Premier League club during that period.
United’s form has not only put Champions League qualification of their favour but raised home the red side of Manchester could even surpass second-placed Man City.
Pep Guardiola’s side remain Arsenal’s biggest rival for the Premier League title but successive draws against Nottingham Forest and West Ham has seen them slip nine points behind the Gunners.
Your football fix
Metro‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy evaluation, transfer talk and his tackle the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Join here, it’s an open goal.
Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney said: ‘For Michael getting in there [to Manchester United], imagine if someone told you they’d be sitting comfortably in third place and potentially could they catch Man City for second place?
‘What he’s done has been incredible, he’s winning games and the players look glad. He’s put United in pole position to get a Champions League spot.’
Asked whether Carrick ought to be awarded with the everlasting Manchester United job at the top of the season, Rooney added: ‘100% he should.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an online
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘I knew this was going to occur with Michael Carrick. I do know him thoroughly. I do know his character and his personality.
‘It needed a peaceful head, but someone who knows the place. The players needed some love, and he has given them that.
‘We have now seen the players play with more quality, more together as a team, and they appear like a really strong team. Why would you modify?’
Carrick was asked about Rooney’s public endorsement after Manchester United’s victory over Aston Villa.
‘There’s not that much noise, is there?’ he said. ‘I don’t mean Wayne, I just mean generally.
‘It’s only noise in case you hearken to it. It doesn’t affect me one bit, to be honest. I’m on this position in the meanwhile, doing the most effective I can, and I’m loving it, obviously.
‘But whatever’s going to occur goes occur. It’s all pretty calm. We are able to definitely benefit from the win and look ahead to Friday night. But apart from that, that’s all I’m fascinated about really.’
Manchester United will look to proceed their impressive form on Friday night when Carrick takes his side to Bournemouth.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the most recent news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Gary Lineker urges Mikel Arteta to drop Arsenal star in Champions League
MORE: ‘He has every little thing’ – Moises Caicedo says ‘underrated’ Chelsea star is ‘the most effective’
MORE: Jamie Carragher names the signing that might win Arsenal the Premier League title