Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have same view on Kai and JJ Gabriel after Man Utd win

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Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have the same view when it comes to JJ Gabriel and Kai Rooney: ease the pressure and let them develop. The two youngsters were both on the scoresheet on Saturday as Manchester United's Under-18s secured a 3-0 win against Blackburn, adding to the buzz among fans who view them as future first-team players .

However, despite the growing excitement, those guiding their progress are calling for calm. Carrick, currently serving as United's interim head coach, has already underlined the importance of patience with 15-year-old Gabriel. He explained that although the club holds the teenager in high regard, a measured approach is essential to balance both his ability and the attention surrounding him.

"JJ is a big talent. We obviously think an awful lot of him, but patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and working with him in development," Carrick said earlier this month.

Rooney , the club's record scorer with 253 goals, has echoed that viewpoint when speaking about his son Kai . In conversation with former team-mate Gary Neville , he emphasised that it is much too soon to determine whether the 16-year-old will follow a similar route to success.

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"You never know. I think he's shown potential and good signs," Rooney Sr said in 2024. "He'll be at United for the next two years and that's when they make decisions on you so we'll have to just wait and see."

Manchester United's Under-18s are currently competing closely with local rivals Manchester City for the U18 Premier League title, and their recent victory over Blackburn has strengthened their position. Gabriel opened the scoring with a penalty, while Kai extended the advantage soon after coming off the bench. Jim Thwaites later sealed the win with an impressive free-kick.

Gabriel has stood out for the U18s this campaign, netting 21 times in 23 matches across all competitions. While he is not yet eligible for Premier League involvement, he has already joined first-team training sessions on multiple occasions - a sign of how highly the club values him.

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"What he's done when he's trained, he's done well as you'd expect and it's good to have the younger players come up with us," Carrick said. "He's doing really well."

United have made clear efforts to demonstrate a route into the senior squad for Gabriel - even inviting him and his family to the Old Trafford directors' box for the season's opening match against Arsenal .

Kai, meanwhile, has also attracted attention after progressing quickly through the academy system. Like Gabriel, he is one of the youngest players regularly involved at U18 level, highlighting how highly both prospects are rated.

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The club's history of nurturing young players only increases the anticipation. From Bobby Charlton and George Best to David Beckham , Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, and more recently Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo , Manchester United's academy has a long tradition of producing top-level talent.

With such a legacy, lofty comparisons are unavoidable - but as both Wayne Rooney and Carrick have pointed out, expectations need to be handled with care.

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