Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick sat alongside Wayne Rooney as he took in his second youth team game of the week and observed Kai Rooney’s big moment.
Manchester United’s new head coach headed out to support the Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup against Derby County, with Rooney alongside him on a night where his 16-year-old son Kai made for his first ever appearance at Old Trafford – also watched on by his proud mum Coleen.
Carrick travelled to Leigh Sports Village on Tuesday along with his coaching staff of Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion, to watch United’s Under-21s defeat Sporting Lisbon 3-2 in the Premier League International Cup, a trip predecessor Ruben Amorim never made in his 14-month tenure.
Now, three days on, Carrick continued his unified club approach by heading to Old Trafford to support Darren Fletcher and the Under-18s.
It wasn’t a display that went all United’s way but it capped off a good week as they defeated Derby County in extra-time to book their place in the last-16 thanks to an own goal by Luca Crolla and a brilliant finish by Chido Obi.
It means the first team, Under-21s and Under-18s all won crucial matches in the past week.
Wayne Rooney’s eldest son Kai, 16, was appearing in his first ever game at Old Trafford
Director of football Jason Wilcox, director of recruitment Christopher Vivell and academy director Stephen Torpey were all in attendance alongside Michael Carrick and his staff
Kai Rooney came off the bench in extra time – and he was watched on by his proud parents Coleen and Wayne
‘My message of support is that I’m coming along to watch and I’m excited,’ Carrick said of his decision to attend.
‘I was lucky enough to play and win the FA Youth Cup when I was young at West Ham.
‘It’s such an important competition, especially for this club. Young players, Old Trafford under the floodlights, feeling what it means, a bit of expectation.
‘It’s a fantastic opportunity for the young boys to go and take the next step.
‘We’re all fully behind them, it’ll be a tough game, but we’re looking forward to it.’
This game was shown the utmost respect by the United hierarchy with director of football Jason Wilcox, director of recruitment Christopher Vivell and academy director Stephen Torpey all in attendance, joining Carrick, his staff, Wayne and Coleen Rooney, and former United midfielder Darron Gibson in the posh seats.
It was a significant night in particular for the doting Rooney parents, just over five years on from Kai signing for the club and he looked full on confidence for his short time on the pitch despite playing two years up.
The fans who attended serenaded him with the familiar, ‘Rooney, Rooney’ chant that used to echo in the ears of his father on the same turf.
As revealed in our most recent Man United Confidential column, Fletcher stacked the deck in attack for this crucial cup game, drafting in Chido Obi to play alongside JJ Gabriel, who scored in the previous round to fire United through.
Those two started in a front three alongside Bendito Mantato, who recently made his first team debut in the final days of Ruben Amorim’s tenure.
All three were electric in a first half that saw the trio pepper Derby’s goal with 12 shots; the visitors owing plenty to goalkeeper Cristiano Dzialuk for ensuring it was 0-0 at half-time.
Kai is pictured five years ago signing a Man United contract and is a rising star
Carrick is keen to unify the whole club and he went to watch the Under-21s on Tuesday night
Derby rallied in the second half and started brighter, leading to some concerned looks from a first team heavy director’s box, as goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes was forced into a handful of quick fire saves.
In front of a crowd of 2,223, United went agonisingly close through James Bailey and it was superb last-man defending by Derby to stop Gabriel running through one versus one in the final 10 minutes.
United thought they’d won it in the 91st minute when a clever move down the left set Mantato through but a heavy touch allowed Dzialuk the chance to come out and smother.
Derby dug in but saw their spirit crushed when substitute James Overy’s ball in was inadvertently turned into his own net by Crolla, who was devastated.
The game stretched soon after and that played into Obi’s hands as he raced beyond the last line of Derby’s defence to score, despite the impressive Dzialuk getting a hand on it.
Max Nessling handed Derby a lifeline with 10 minutes remaining in extra-time when he slotted in after rounding Byrne-Hughes, but it would prove to be no more than a consolation on the night.
