Rooney says derby win best Man United performance since Fergie’s exit

Wayne Rooney believes the Manchester United fans ‘haven’t witnessed a team perform that well’ since Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit, following the club’s derby win over Manchester City.

Michael Carrick’s reign as interim manager began with a 2-0 win over the club’s fierce rivals at Old Trafford on Saturday. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed success, in a dominant performance that also saw United have three goals disallowed.

The fixture was Carrick’s first as interim coach since replacing Ruben Amorim, and Rooney believes the appointment of the former favourite has lifted the entire club.

“I wasn’t at the stadium, I was in the BBC studios, but did you see the difference in the stadium? Even when he [Michael Carrick] walked out before the game and he’s trying to pump the crowd up,” Rooney said on the BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.

That Old Trafford ROAAAAARRRR! pic.twitter.com/4miK8MWI4i

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 19, 2026

“I think the fans felt something yesterday. They got a taste of what it was like under Sir Alex Ferguson. Some of the young fans who have been through a terrible time over the last 10, 13 years, really, since Fergie left.

“They haven’t witnessed a team perform that well. I’ve been part of some of those teams as well. I’ve played in some of them.

“They haven’t witnessed a team perform that well, with that energy and that belief in their fighting and being brave with the ball, but also being resilient and tough to play against.

“Them fans felt that yesterday and hopefully that’s a glimpse of what we’ve got coming in the next 16 games.”

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