Manchester United officials intervened
Samuel Meade
12:11, 20 Jan 2026
Roy Keane
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Roy Keane(Image: )
Sky Sports submitted a proposal that would have resulted in Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick being questioned by Roy Keane - mere days after the pundit criticised Carrick's wife.
The broadcaster's representatives enquired whether the newly appointed manager would participate in a pre-match interview directly with the studio ahead of the Manchester derby. This arrangement would have brought Keane and Carrick face-to-face prior to kick-off. While Sky secured their interview, it took place with Gary Neville in the tunnel area, rather than with the studio panel, following intervention from United representatives, according to the Daily Mail.
Days earlier, Keane had labelled Mrs Carrick "a big mouth" during an appearance on the Overlap. His remarks appeared prompted by a social media message she had published, then subsequently removed, after the Irishman had criticised her husband for providing a lacklustre interview following a Champions League defeat to Olympiakos in 2014.
Over a decade ago, Carrick's wife had reacted to Keane's assessment of that interview, writing on social media: "Roy Keane what a **** will say anything to provoke a reaction.", reports the Mirror.
Despite deleting the post quickly, Keane evidently hadn't forgotten, referencing it following Carrick's appointment when he remarked: "His wife can always come in (if Carrick doesn't do well), cause she's got a bit of a big mouth sometimes. She's probably doing the team talk."
Carrick made an impressive debut in his new position at Old Trafford, orchestrating a commanding 2-0 victory against Manchester City that might have been even more emphatic. The former midfielder has been appointed until the season's conclusion, though speculation is already mounting about a permanent appointment should he steer the club towards Champions League qualification.
Keane has voiced disapproval of his old club's tendency to recruit former players, whilst also questioning the composition of the backroom staff. United have travelled this path previously, handing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the position before his dismissal following almost three years at the helm, the Irish Mirror reports.
Jonny Evans numbers amongst those joining the coaching setup, despite limited credentials, which particularly resonated with Keane. He remarked: "Jonny Evans left Man United about four, five, six weeks ago right? He left in the summer as a player and they gave him a job as a loans manager. Leaves a month or two ago, had enough of that - not 10 years doing it, a few months.
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"My issue with Jonny, he's got no coaching. It's not like he's worked with the academy for a few years."