Michael Carrick has once again shown his class when talking about the noise that pundits, such as Roy Keane, pile onto Manchester United.
Michael Carrick has enjoyed a dream start to life as Manchester United’s head coach after he joined the club to steady the ship following Rúben Amorim’s sacking last month.
Being faced with a daunting fixture list of Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, Tottenham, and West Ham, the side have secured 13 of a possible 15 points, only faltering against the latter.
But, even then, the 1-1 draw against the Hammers showed fight and resilience that resulted in Benjamin Šeško’s 90+6th-minute equalising goal to keep United’s unbeaten streak alive.
Having had a 13-day break due to no FA Cup action for the Reds, Carrick’s full focus is on facing Everton away from home on Monday evening.
Carrick’s classy response to embarrassing punditry
Prior to Carrick taking the reins at Old Trafford, former United midfielder Roy Keane, along with a few others in the punditry world, carved out time to slam Carrick and his coaching staff for their lack of experience, questioning whether they had the tools to take on such a huge role.
In what was a rather embarrassing special, Keane seemed to have only harsh words for the United head coach, taking potshots at Carrick’s wife and claiming that, even if he won every game until the end of the season, he’d still not be good enough to take the job full-time.
However, speaking to the BBC, Carrick oozed class when asked about criticism and opinions coming from so many ex-players.
“It doesn’t bother me one bit,” the United boss affirmed. “Genuinely, it doesn’t. I’m not going to really fall out with anyone over that.
“I think it’s a respect thing as much as anything, and I’ll give and take that. I think for younger players in genera,l it’s something we need to help them with and look after them. It’s a different world now to when, say, I was coming through, but we do that, and we look after them.”
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United coach is the ultimate football job, says Carrick
Continuing, there has been a lot of talk amid United’s hunt for a new long-term head coach at Old Trafford, whether Carrick may already be the man the club is looking for. When probed on if he would want the job on a long-term basis, Carrick beamed.
“It’s not a stock answer – for me, it’s the ultimate role,” the 44-year-old admitted.
“I’m really enjoying it, I love what I’m doing. I’m fortunate. I feel privileged to be in the position I am, but it’s not the fact that I believe I can do it, and I’m here to do it.
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“I said it when I came in – there’s the sentimental side of that… of understanding the role and coming through the club and being here and loving the club and being a supporter and all that side of it is one thing. But, actually, I’m here to do a job now and to make a good team and be successful.
“I don’t decide how long that’s going to be, but I love being here, and while I’m here, I’ll give everything I can. And I always plan for the long-term future for the benefit of the football club. That’s how I believe it should be.”
United’s hunt for a new head coach is expected to be a long, exhaustive process that will continue through the season and beyond, with multiple high-level candidates under consideration. But, even if it takes a while, the club may find that the final answer is already on their doorstep.
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