Wayne Rooney has claimed Manchester United are “a million miles away” from where they need to be and says Michael Carrick’s early success gave the club “false hope”.

The former United striker believes United’s third-place finish last season after Carrick took over persuaded those in charge that they were closer to competing at the top than was really the case.

“Unfortunately, what happened when Michael Carrick came in at the start is that it has given the players and the board false hope that they are good enough,” Rooney said on the Stick to United podcast.

“He has done well, stuck together, managed somehow to finish third, then the board are thinking, ‘We are a top four team’, when in reality they are miles away from it.

“You are deluded if they think the front three are good enough. They wanted Premier League players, they have brought lads from Wolves, Brentford, who have done well, but for signings to take this Manchester United team to the next level, you are living in cuckoo land if you think they are going to achieve that.”

Rooney was also highly critical of United’s squad building and spending, particularly in midfield.

“The squad is absolutely a million miles away,” he added.

“The worst thing for Michael Carrick, he has given the board a bit of hope when in reality, they needed a big overhaul and have done for years.

“I feel for Michael, he has been let down, he hasn’t been good enough, but the players have let him down massively.”