MANCHESTER, England — Michael Carrick has expressed that he is “not bothered” by the personal criticism directed at him by Roy Keane following his recent appointment as the head coach of Manchester United.
Carrick has stepped into the managerial role at Old Trafford for the remainder of the season.
The 44-year-old will kick off his tenure with a derby match against Manchester City on Saturday.
Having just started three days ago, Carrick has already come under fire from Keane, who quipped that Carrick’s wife, Lisa, “is probably doing the team talk”—a nod to a 2014 incident where Lisa defended Carrick on social media after Keane criticized his performance in a 2-0 loss to Olympiacos during the UEFA Champions League.
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Former head coach Ruben Amorim also noted the noise from ex-players near the end of his tenure.
Nonetheless, Carrick dismissed such comments as “irrelevant.”
“It didn’t bother me,” Carrick stated when addressing Keane’s remarks.
“[Former players] are not adding any pressure on me. I don’t perceive it that way.
“There are numerous opinions out there, some positive and some less so. But it’s entirely irrelevant to what I concentrate on. I’m aware of what we need to improve and how we plan to work with the players.”
“Many things can be said; it’s just how it goes. I’m not going to focus too much on that. For me, the priority is the players and staff and how we can achieve success.”
Carrick has returned to the club over four years after leaving, following a brief three-game spell as caretaker manager in 2021.
Previously, he served as a coach under both José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, briefly connecting Solskjær’s departure and Ralf Rangnick’s appointment.
“It’s fantastic to be back,” said Carrick. “It’s a wonderful feeling to take on this role. I’ve had various positions and developed a deep attachment to the club.
“I’m fully aware of the responsibilities I carry. I’m eager to succeed; we have a significant challenge ahead. We have to win games, perform well, and do it in the right way.”