Paul Scholes, a former Manchester United player, has clarified that his recent Instagram story post about Michael Carrick, the interim head coach of Manchester United, was not intended to be offensive. This comes after a controversial comment he made following United's 2-1 Premier League defeat by Newcastle United last Wednesday. This loss marked their first under Carrick's leadership.
In his post, Scholes wrote: "Michael has definitely got something special about him...cos Utd have been [expletive] last four games." These comments sparked criticism from fans and fellow players alike.
Scholes' remarks were met with disapproval from several quarters. Notably, former team-mate Patrice Evra expressed his disappointment saying "I hope he was hacked". The comment suggested that such disparaging remarks could not have come from a respected figure like Scholes without external interference. However, the 51-year-old stood by his words and took to 'The Good, The Bad & The Football' podcast on Monday to explain himself. He shared the platform with former Reds players Wes Brown and Nicky Butt where he stated that he had spoken to Carrick about the issue.
Paul Scholes, Manchester United legend, said:
"It was in no way intended to be offensive towards Michael. He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in football, he'd be the last person that I would want to offend. I messaged Michael anyway. I went straight to Michael and said, 'Look, I was never intending to upset you'. And I don't think I needed to say that anyway and he told me himself he wasn't upset by it."
"I think people have just taken it differently from what was meant. The only thing I was saying was that I don't think they played that well the last four games and he's still managing to get results. We had the greatest manager in the world and he always said sometimes you need a bit of luck. So with sending-offs and different things that happen through games, sometimes you do need a bit of luck, that's all I was saying."
Evaluating Carrick's performance as interim head coach
Carrick assumed control of Manchester United following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. His tenure started impressively as he remained unbeaten in his first seven games. Under his guidance, Man Utd managed victories against formidable opponents like Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham at the start of his time at helm.
However recent performances have been less stellar compared to those initial victories which raised questions among fans and critics alike regarding consistency under Carrick's leadership. Despite the recent loss, Manchester United is currently third in the league and in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League. This suggests that while there may be room for improvement, Carrick's leadership has not been without its successes.
Scholes' comments about Carrick were controversial but he maintains they were not intended to offend. As former teammates who played alongside each other in United's midfield for seven years, their relationship is one of mutual respect. The incident serves as a reminder of the intense scrutiny under which football figures operate and how their words can often be misconstrued.
