Manchester United officials intervene ahead of derby encounter
Manchester United officials intervened to prevent a potentially awkward on-screen encounter between new head coach Michael Carrick and Roy Keane prior to Saturday’s Manchester derby, reports BritPanorama.
Sky Sports had requested that Carrick appear for a pre-match interview directly from the studio, which would have placed him face-to-face with Keane just days after the pundit made critical remarks about Carrick’s wife. However, the broadcaster managed to secure the interview, which took place in the tunnel with Gary Neville asking the questions instead.
This decision followed the controversy ignited by Keane’s comments on the Overlap podcast, where he described Lisa Carrick as having “a big mouth.” This remark appeared to reference a social media post she had made and then deleted in 2014, following Keane’s criticism of her husband’s interview after a Manchester United Champions League loss to Olympiakos.
Despite Lisa’s swift deletion of the message, Keane referenced it last week, suggesting that “his wife can always come in (if Carrick doesn’t do well), cause she’s got a bit of a big mouth sometimes.” Carrick commenced his tenure at Old Trafford with a solid performance, as his team secured a 2-0 victory against Manchester City, which could have seen an even larger margin.
Despite being in charge on a temporary basis, speculation is already mounting regarding Carrick’s future. Should he manage to stabilise the club and guide them back into next season’s Champions League, a permanent appointment may be on the horizon. United has previously taken a similar route by appointing former player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, only to part ways with him after nearly three years.
Keane has voiced his concerns regarding the club’s inclination to appoint former players to key positions, as well as the overall experience level within the current coaching staff. He scrutinised the addition of Jonny Evans to the backroom team, questioning the lack of coaching experience, given that Evans had left the club as a player only a short time ago.
In the aftermath of their derby win, United demonstrated how quickly fortunes can turn in football. Carrick’s victory not only marked a successful debut in management but also raised immediate questions about what lies ahead for both him and the club amidst ongoing debates over staffing and strategy.
