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Carrick shrugs off Keane's remarks
Manchester United's interim head coach Michael Carrick has called former teammate Roy Keane's recent comments "irrelevant" and said personal attacks do not affect him as the club navigates a turbulent period.
Background to the feud
Carrick, who inherited Keane's iconic number 16 shirt when he joined United from Tottenham in 2006, enjoyed a decorated career at Old Trafford, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League. However, tensions resurfaced after United's 2014 defeat to Olympiakos in Europe, a match that marked the beginning of the club's decline. Keane criticized Carrick's post-match interview as lackluster, prompting a fiery response from Carrick's wife, Lisa, on social media. Though her post was quickly deleted, Keane revisited the incident this week, labeling her "a big mouth" during a podcast.
Keane's broader critique
On the latest episode of the *Stick to Football* podcast, Keane also questioned the appointments of Jonny Evans, Steve Holland, and Jonathan Woodgate to Carrick's coaching staff. Evans, a former United defender, and Woodgate, who previously managed Middlesbrough, were part of Carrick's backroom team at the Riverside. Holland, a longtime assistant to Gareth Southgate with England, joins as an additional voice in the dugout.
Keane and Gary Neville, another former United captain, will both be part of Sky Sports' coverage of Saturday's Manchester derby, setting the stage for further scrutiny.
Carrick's response
Speaking to reporters, Carrick downplayed the pressure from external opinions. "There are plenty of opinions around, some positive, some not too much. It's totally irrelevant in terms of what I focus on," he said. "For me, the players and staff, we focus on how we're going to succeed." When asked specifically about Keane's personal remarks, Carrick was blunt: "It didn't bother me."
United's on-field struggles
Carrick's tenure begins amid a difficult run for United, who have won just once in their last seven matches. Recent draws against Wolves, Leeds, and Burnley have left them seventh in the Premier League table. With a trip to league leaders Arsenal looming next weekend, Carrick's side could slip into the bottom half before hosting Fulham on February 1-a match where fan protests against the Glazer ownership are expected.
Despite the challenges, Carrick rejected the notion that United are a "fallen giant." "I certainly don't think it's soulless," he said. "I think there's a magic around this place, you can't help but feel that." He emphasized his role in shaping the club's culture, adding, "What happens on the pitch is one thing, but certainly the culture as well-how we think, how we act, how we behave-is part of my responsibility."
Ownership and targets
Carrick confirmed he had spoken with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and members of the Glazer family during their monthly board meeting at Carrington on Thursday. While his primary contacts remain director of football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada, he described the interaction as positive. "The ownership group were in and around it," he said. "It was nice to see them and meet them. We were able to share a few things, and they wished all the very best."
When asked about specific targets for his 17-game interim spell, Carrick pointed to European qualification as a "step forward."
Ferguson's influence debated
Former United midfielder Darren Fletcher revealed he sought Sir Alex Ferguson's blessing before taking interim charge at Old Trafford, a move Keane described as Ferguson and former CEO David Gill "hanging around like a bad smell." However, ex-defender Rio Ferdinand disagreed, calling Keane's remarks "disrespectful."
"To say hanging around like a bad smell errs on the side of disrespectful," Ferdinand told BBC Radio 5 Live. "The likes of Fletcher and Carrick do call him. They respect him. They have seen most of their career playing alongside him. Why wouldn't you call on that experience?"
Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand also defended Carrick's appointment, arguing that bringing in a "steady person" familiar with the club was the right decision. "I don't think it's an easy call for the people making this decision," he said. "What they have done is gone with someone who knows a good amount of the players, knows the club, and is going to get a team around him with a blend of experience to give him the best chance possible."
What's next
United face Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Carrick's side looking to arrest their poor form. The match will be closely watched, not only for its sporting significance but also for the potential fallout from Keane and Neville's commentary. Meanwhile, fan protests against the Glazer ownership are expected to intensify ahead of the Fulham game on February 1.
