Roy Keane has voiced his strong disapproval of Michael Carrick and his coaching staff at Manchester United, labeling them 'lucky boys' for retaining their positions. Keane believes the under-fire manager and his team need to 'grow a pair and start getting results' after a turbulent period for the club.
Carrick's tenure has faced increased scrutiny following a difficult week that included a significant defeat by Como and a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth. Despite these results, club officials met for crucial talks and ultimately decided to grant Carrick more time to improve the team's performance.
This reprieve comes amidst off-pitch tensions, with reports of captain Bruno Fernandes being dropped after publicly criticizing Carrick's tactics and Lisandro Martinez expressing concerns about the club's transfer market ambition. Keane admitted his surprise that Carrick was not sacked, emphasizing the need for tangible results on the field.
Speaking on the 'Stick to Football' podcast, Keane, a former Manchester United midfielder himself, stated his long-held doubts about Carrick's suitability for the role. He argued that while Carrick managed a few games successfully last year, transitioning to managing a full football club, including pre-season, expectations, and recruitment, presents a different challenge. Keane suggested that when results faltered, blame shifted to the board or other individuals rather than being accepted by the coaching staff.
"Michael Carrick, his coaching staff, Jonny (Evans), (Jonathan) Woodgate, (Steve) Holland - they're lucky boys to still be involved at Manchester United," Keane asserted. "They have to grow a pair and start getting results on Saturday. Get a result to Chelsea."
Carrick and his team are set to face Chelsea, having gone eight games without a win. Captain Bruno Fernandes is expected to return to the starting lineup after holding clear-the-air talks with Carrick following his omission against Bournemouth.
Keane's skepticism about Carrick's long-term prospects predates recent struggles. In March, he publicly opposed calls for Carrick to be given the permanent job, telling Sky Sports that he believed 'better options out there' existed. While acknowledging Carrick's success in winning games during his interim period, Keane felt his approach had simplified matters without significant jeopardy.
Previous remarks by Keane regarding Carrick's wife, Lisa Roughead, resurfaced as a point of contention. Last season, Keane made a comment about her having a 'big mouth,' which Carrick publicly stated he was 'not bothered' by. However, this exchange appears to stem from an earlier incident in 2014 when Roughead responded critically on social media to Keane's assessment of Carrick's performance against Olympiacos.
Keane also directed criticism at the Manchester United players, questioning their commitment. "Are they playing for him? The players are contracted to Manchester United, they're not contracted to Michael Carrick," he stated. He added that while people might say the players care, he believes they 'don't care enough.' Keane also touched upon the importance of effort and running for midfielders, suggesting that increased effort could lead to better fortune and highlighting defensive gaps evidenced by goals conceded.
Gary Neville, another former Manchester United captain, offered a different perspective, suggesting that a sacking might ultimately be beneficial for Carrick. Neville speculated that the club's decision-making process has been muddled, leading to a hesitant continuation with Carrick. He drew a parallel to his own experience at Valencia, where he felt being sacked provided a necessary end to a difficult period.