Carrick Dismisses Former Players’ Opinions as ‘Irrelevant’

Michael Carrick has characterized the critiques from former Manchester United players as “irrelevant,” emphasizing that comments from Roy Keane did not affect him personally.

Carrick’s Tenure at United

Since joining Manchester United from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, Carrick took over Keane’s iconic number 16 shirt. During his playing career, he secured five Premier League titles and a Champions League victory. However, he witnessed the club’s decline when they suffered a defeat against Olympiakos in the Champions League in 2014. Following that match, Keane described Carrick’s post-game interview as uninspiring, which prompted an emotional response from Carrick’s wife, Lisa.

Despite her quick retraction of a strongly-worded social media post, Keane, during a recent podcast, referred to her as “a big mouth.” He also scrutinized Carrick’s decision to include Jonny Evans and other coaches in his staff.

As both Keane and Gary Neville prepare to cover the upcoming Manchester derby for Sky Sports, Carrick insists that the opinions expressed by them are not adding pressure to his role.

“I don’t feel that,” Carrick stated. “There are numerous opinions out there—some are favorable, while others are critical. But it is entirely irrelevant to me. My focus remains on what we need to do to succeed.”

Manchester Derby Preview

As United heads into the derby against Manchester City, the team finds itself struggling, with only one victory in their last seven matches. They have been unable to secure crucial points, slipping down the league standings.

While anticipating a tough match against league leaders Arsenal next week, Carrick could face challenges as United could end up in a precarious spot in the table prior to an upcoming home match against Fulham, which is expected to see protests against club ownership.

Carrick refuted claims of Manchester United lacking spirit. “I definitely do not consider it soulless. There is a certain magic within this club,” he expressed. “Part of my role is to shape our future direction and help cultivate a positive culture both on and off the pitch.”

Critique of Club Leadership

Darren Fletcher, a former player, revealed he sought the approval of Sir Alex Ferguson before stepping up as interim manager, leading to Keane’s comments about Ferguson’s continued presence at the club. However, fellow ex-player Rio Ferdinand disagreed and defended Ferguson’s significance in guiding current players, arguing that Keane’s remarks were disrespectful.

Ferdinand added that the decision to appoint Carrick was sensible, given his familiarity with the players and the club’s dynamics. “There’s value in continuity and not making hasty decisions, especially in challenging times,” he remarked. “Carrick is someone who understands the club and is well-equipped to lead the team forward.”

Ferdinand emphasized the importance of making informed decisions during tough times and suggested that Carrick’s existing knowledge of the players would benefit the team’s performance.

For more insights on Manchester United, stay tuned for discussions on BBC Radio 5 Live.