Michael Carrick has branded the noise generated around Manchester United by former players “irrelevant” and says Roy Keane’s personal comments “did not bother” him.
Carrick inherited Keane’s number 16 shirt when he joined United from Tottenham in 2006.
He went on to win five Premier League titles and the Champions League but United were at the start of their downward spiral when they were beaten by Olympiakos in Europe’s top-tier competition in 2014.
Carrick gave what Keane felt was a dour interview after that match and the Irishman’s assessment triggered a fierce response from Carrick’s wife Lisa at the time.
Although she quickly deleted an X-rated social media post, Keane has evidently not forgotten and branded her “a big mouth” when he assessed this week’s appointments at Old Trafford on the latest Stick to Football podcast.
Keane also criticised the appointment of Jonny Evans to Carrick’s coaching staff, in addition to that of ex-England assistant boss Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate, the former Leeds and Real Madrid defender, who previously managed Middlesbrough and was part of Carrick’s staff at the Riverside.
The former United skipper and Gary Neville will both be part of Sky Sports’ coverage of the Manchester derby on Saturday, providing another platform for controversy.
“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.”
Asked about the personal attack by Keane, Carrick said: “It didn’t bother me.”
The Manchester United head coach said he had not been set any targets for his 17 games in charge but spoke about European qualification being a “step forward”.
He also said he had spoken to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and members of the Glazer family when they held their monthly board meeting at Carrington on Thursday, although his primary contact is with director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada.
“The ownership group were in and around it,” said Carrick. “It was nice to see them and meet them.
“We were able to share a few things and they wished all the very best.”