Roy Keane criticises Man Utd ‘chaos’ and Michael Carrick ‘gamble’

By Press Association Sport Staff

Roy Keane says Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim head coach is an indication of “chaos” at Manchester United.

The 44-year-old took the Old Trafford hot seat until the end of the campaign after Ruben Amorim was sacked last Monday.

Carrick briefly took over as caretaker manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021 and begins his second stint against Manchester City on Saturday.

He insisted on Friday that the opinions of players-turned-pundits such as Keane and Gary Neville do not put extra pressure on him but Keane displayed his frustration and concern over the appointment of Carrick, as well as the backroom staff that joined him earlier this week.

Former England assistant Steve Holland will join Carrick in the dugout alongside Jonathan Woodgate, who worked with Carrick at Middlesbrough, and Jonny Evans.

Ahead of the derby game on Saturday, Keane told Sky Sports: “I’m more concerned. More concerned with the appointment and staff that have come in with the manager.

“You look at Michael Carrick. Whatever his remit was at Middlesbrough – I’m sure it was to get promoted, he didn’t do that so you can say he failed there – doesn’t mean to say he’s a bad manager.

“You get the opportunity, it’s great for him. You look at the staff he’s brought in, you look at Manchester United being the best of the best – at this moment in time I don’t see that.

“Manchester United the greatest club in the world, one of the biggest… but all of a sudden we’re going to take a gamble on a manager who hasn’t got a great track record.”

Former defender Evans, United’s under-21s coach Travis Binnion and goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson complete the coaching set-up after they worked under Darren Fletcher in his two-game spell in interim charge.

Keane went on to say he would not go back to Manchester United if they asked him.

Keane added: “Jonny gets the phone call. I bet Jonny Evans is thinking, ‘as the kit manager, or to work with the under-12s?’ No, to work with the first team.

“He had two games, didn’t go well. That’s probably the end of it – no, another manager comes in, and they want you to stay on as well.

“Would I come and help Manchester United? Probably no. I wouldn’t want to work with people above me who are dictating who your staff are and telling me what players you’re bringing in. There has been chaos in the background.”