Michael Carrick shrugs off Roy Keane criticism as Man United derby looms

Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick has insisted criticism from former captain Roy Keane has had no impact on him, as he prepares to begin his reign with a high-pressure derby against Manchester City.

Carrick, 44, was appointed United head coach until the end of the season and takes charge of his first match on Saturday, just three days after officially stepping into the role.

Despite the short turnaround, he has already been drawn into debate following comments from Keane, who joked that Carrick’s wife Lisa was “probably doing the team talk” — a reference to a long-running personal spat dating back to 2014.

Speaking ahead of the derby, Carrick was dismissive of the criticism and made it clear that outside noise will not influence his approach.

“It didn’t bother me,” Carrick said when asked about Keane’s remarks.
“Former players are not putting more pressure on me. 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.”

Carrick stressed that his attention is firmly on the day-to-day work with the squad rather than commentary from ex-players or pundits.

“I know what we want to improve on, how we want to work with the players,” he added.
“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, it’s about focusing on how we’re going to succeed.”

External criticism had been a theme raised by Carrick’s predecessor Ruben Amorim towards the end of his time at Old Trafford, with the former head coach pointing to pressure from ex-United figures as part of the club’s challenging environment.

Carrick, however, appears far more relaxed about the scrutiny that comes with the job.

This marks Carrick’s return to the United dugout more than four years after his brief three-match caretaker spell in 2021, when he stepped in following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjær and before the arrival of Ralf Rangnick.

He has previously worked as a coach under both José Mourinho and Solskjær, and says his connection to the club remains as strong as ever.

“It’s fantastic to be here,” Carrick said. “It’s a great feeling to be in this position. I’ve had different roles and fallen in love with the club.

“I’m fully aware of the position I’m in. I’m eager to succeed. We’ve got a big job to do. We’ve got to win games, play well, and do it in a certain way.”

Carrick’s first challenge could hardly be tougher, with United facing City in a derby that will immediately test his authority, tactical clarity, and ability to manage pressure.

For now, though, the interim boss is keeping his focus narrow — on performances, players, and points — rather than the noise surrounding him.

Saturday’s derby will offer the first glimpse of Carrick’s United. Whatever the result, his message is clear: opinions won’t distract him — only performances will matter.

Can Michael Carrick block out the noise and steady Manchester United — or will outside pressure inevitably grow?