Michael Carrick shares a bad past with former Man United captain Roy Keane. Images: Reuters
Manchester United interim coach Michael Carrick termed the opinion of former club legends as “irrelevant” ahead of his first game in charge at Old Trafford on Saturday. Carrick, who briefly held the role of a caretaker in 2021, has been brought back to Manchester United to replace Ruben Amorim.
Man United are currently seventh in the English Premier League table with 32 points from 21 matches, and former midfielder Carrick would be in the job at least till the end of the season. Carrick, who won five Premier League titles and a Champions League with Man United, would start his new tenure with a Manchester Derby against Man City.
A poor result in the Derby could pile early pressure on Carrick. Chief voices of criticism against Man United have come from some of their legendary players, like Roy Keane and Gary Neville.
In the pre-match press conference on Friday, Carrick was asked if the opinions of Keane and Neville would negatively impact his work at Man United.
Carrick replied that outside opinion is “irrelevant” and his focus is going to be on giving his best for his former club.
“They’re not putting more pressure on me,” Carrick said. “I don’t feel that. There are plenty of opinions around, some positive, some not too much. It’s totally irrelevant in terms of what I focus on.
“There’s a lot that can be said, it’s the way of the world. I’m not going to pay too much attention to that. For me, the players and staff, we focus on how we’re going to succeed.”
Carrick, who took over Keane’s No. 16 shirt at Man United when he joined the club in 2006, shares some bad blood with the former captain.
After Keane blasted the former midfielder for one of his interviews during his playing days at Old Trafford, Carrick’s wife hit out at Keane with an X-rated social media post, which was deleted soon after.
Recently, on a TV show, Keane called Carrick’s wife a “loud mouth” as he criticised the manager for adding Jonny Evans to his coaching staff.
Carrick was asked about the impact of a personal attack on him by Kane. To which he replied: “It didn’t bother me.”
Carrick also dismissed the feeling that Man United are now a fallen giant, as he felt the club has all it takes to return to the top.
“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. Part of my role and responsibility is shaping what we want to look like going forward. What happens on the pitch is one thing but certainly the culture as well, how we think, how we act, how we behave, what it means for us to be here, is part of my responsibility.
“I’ve been back for three days and there’s nothing I’ve looked at that’s red-flagged anything. The players have been really good, willing to listen, willing to learn, wanting to do better, wanting to put better performances in – that’s the feeling I’ve got.
“Everyone’s desperate to do well and I’ve got a lot of belief in this group individually and collectively.”
