Former Manchester United coach René Meulensteen has thrown his support behind Michael Carrick amid the Red Devils’ tough start to the season.
While admitting that management is a demanding job, Meulensteen believes Carrick’s calm demeanour is ideally suited to the high expectations at Old Trafford.
Speaking exclusively to BestBettingSites, Meulensteen also touched on Wayne Rooney’s topsy-turvy managerial career.
Dutchman praises Carrick
During a sit-down interview, Meulensteen said of Carrick: “It’s no surprise to me that Michael ended up in management.
“As a player, he was an out-and-out top professional who approached his job and preparation meticulously.
“As a person, Michael just goes about his business very calmly without wild shifts in temperament.
“You see that exact same steady pair of hands now when he addresses the media in press conferences.
“He had a great tactical brain, understood his role and read the game exceptionally well.
“He was a massive part of our Manchester United midfield, and he’s carried that intelligence straight into coaching.”
Management ‘incredibly difficult’
On the pressure that comes with Premier League management, Meulensteen added: “Management is an incredibly difficult job.
“When you’re a player, you only have to manage your own personal performance and preparation for the team.
“When you’re a manager, you have to manage every single player, every member of staff and manage upward with CEOs and technical directors.
“Every time you take a new job, you have to adjust to the organisation, the environment and see if the squad matches your expectations.”
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Meulensteen defends Rooney
Asked how Carrick’s record in the hot seat compares to that of another Man United legend in Rooney, Meulensteen was measured.
“Wayne was a generational, high-end performer as a player, so his personal standards are naturally sky-high,” he said.
“One of the biggest difficulties for Wayne in management has likely been expecting players to instinctively do things that came naturally to him but weren’t normal for the players he was managing.
“When players can’t live up to those standards, performances drop, results suffer and the job becomes extremely tough.”
Rooney is currently without a job after taking in spells at Derby County, DC United, Birmingham City, and Plymouth Argyle.
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