Michael Carrick plays down outside noise as Manchester United prepare for the Manchester derby, where Carrick leads the side as interim head coach. Carrick steps in after Darren Fletcher, with the former
midfielder promoted earlier this week and now tasked with steadying United during a difficult spell.
The appointment has drawn strong public criticism, especially from Roy Keane on The Overlap and Stick to Football podcast, which also features Gary Neville. Keane accused Manchester United of nepotism and also attacked Carrick’s wife, calling Lisa Carrick a big mouth after a deleted social media post about Keane.
This is Carrick’s second spell leading Manchester United. Carrick previously oversaw three matches between November and December 2021, collecting two wins and one draw. As a player, Carrick faced Manchester City 24 times in the Premier League, winning 13, drawing three and losing eight.
Carrick enjoyed an even better record when facing Sunderland in the league, with 16 victories, which is more than against any other opponent. Those numbers highlight Carrick’s long experience in major domestic fixtures, something Manchester United now rely on as the Manchester derby approaches at Old Trafford.
| Role / Opponent | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager, Man Utd (Nov-Dec 2021) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Player vs Manchester City (Premier League) | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 |
| Player vs Sunderland (Premier League) | - | 16 | - | - |
Keane’s comments about Lisa Carrick related to an old dispute. Lisa Carrick had posted, then deleted, criticism of Keane after Keane’s reaction to Carrick’s post-match interview following Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to Olympiacos in 2014, an episode that still shapes the current tension.
Carrick says those views will not alter his work or mindset. "They're not putting more pressure on me," said Carrick. "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. "
Up close at Carrington @Snapdragon x #ShotOnSnapdragon pic.twitter.com/cqPyuO2BTdManchester United (@ManUtd) January 16, 2026
Wayne Rooney backs Michael Carrick Manchester United tenure
Wayne Rooney has publicly supported Carrick’s appointment. Rooney and Carrick were team-mates 366 times for Manchester United, winning five Premier League titles together. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney described Carrick as calm in public but highly driven when dealing with important football situations.
Rooney said: "Michael's great fun. He is a great character, but don't be fooled by how calm he looks. He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he'd be going in there now with full focus. It is probably the obvious choice really because I don't think there are any top, top managers available at the minute. I think it is the right choice at this moment in time. It is a difficult task of course. Where Manchester United are at the minute is not a good place and Michael has to go in and steady the ship. "
Carrick now enters the derby under scrutiny from former colleagues yet with backing from Rooney and others. Manchester United expect a difficult period, but Carrick stresses internal focus, aims to manage the pressure, and looks to draw on past experience at the club as the squad prepares for the challenge.
