Manchester United's interim head coach, Michael Carrick, has publicly addressed a pointed comment made about his wife by club legend Roy Keane, insisting the remark does not affect him as he prepares for a crucial Manchester derby.
Keane's Podcast Jibe Referenced Past Spat
The controversy stems from Keane's appearance on the Stick To Football podcast. When fellow pundit Jamie Carragher suggested United should not have appointed Carrick as interim coach, Keane responded with a dig at Carrick's wife, Lisa. "Well, his wife can always come in because she’s got a bit of a big mouth sometimes. She’s probably doing the team talk," Keane said.
This was a clear reference to a long-running feud that began in February 2014. After Keane criticised Michael Carrick's performance and post-match comments following a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Olympiakos, Lisa Carrick took to social media to call Keane "a ****" who says anything to provoke a reaction.
Carrick's Focused Response
Speaking to the media on Friday, Carrick was unequivocal in his dismissal of the issue. "Honestly, it didn’t bother me," the 44-year-old stated. He extended this calm demeanour to the broader scrutiny from former United stars like Keane and Gary Neville who now work in the media.
"They’re not putting more pressure on me, I don’t feel that," the former midfielder emphasised. "It’s just part of it. I understand the role, there’s plenty of opinions around... It is the way of the world, I’m not going to pay too much attention."
Carrick stressed that his sole focus, along with his players and staff, is on achieving success for the club. "That’s our job, that’s our responsibility," he affirmed.
Defining Success in a Turbulent Season
Carrick's immediate challenge is a daunting one: his first match back in temporary charge is the Manchester derby against rivals City at Old Trafford on Saturday. United currently sit seventh in the Premier League with 32 points and are out of both domestic cup competitions.
When asked to define success for the remainder of the season, Carrick highlighted player development as a key metric. "Help and improve individuals. A big part of what I really enjoy is improving individuals and if you do that you create a better team," he explained.
He also pointed to tangible targets, stating the club must aim to finish as high up the table as possible. "There is an element of performance, results and doing what it takes to win... European football would be a step forward," Carrick added.
The interim boss confirmed that new chief executive Omar Berrada and incoming director of football Jason Wilcox have not set rigid ultimatums, but the collective ambition is clear: to climb the league and secure European qualification.
