Paul Scholes has tried to explain a controversial social media post about Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick, but again, his reasoning doesn't stack up.
Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes
Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes in happier times
View Image
A cynic would suggest that Paul Scholes, using his own podcast to try to explain a controversial social media post about a hugely popular figure at Manchester United, can only be good for business. But there are no cynics here, right?
It's not like this has happened before, is it? Scholes and his co-host, Nicky Butt, haven't previously been weirdly critical of another popular United player, turned it into a public spat and then used their podcast to escalate the matter further?
You can be sure Carrick won't be offering Scholes to come round his house to settle their differences, man-to-man, as Lisandro Martinez did back in January. In fact, Scholes insists Carrick has already accepted his explanation for his latest unnecessary jibe at his former club.
HEREHEREHEREHERE.
Either way, for a couple of former players who claim to support the club and complained about the struggle to get tickets for matches last year, they aren't doing much to endear themselves to people inside Old Trafford, or to their United fanbase.
Scholes has a glorious legacy at United, the club he represented with distinction on 718 occasions, but in his post-punditry career, as a podcaster looking to go viral, there is an argument that he is using that club's name to boost his own product. He isn't alone there, but nobody else in the same boat won 11 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues with the club.
Scholes' The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast has had its fair share of publicity from United recently, all of it driven by the controversial comments of the two former pros sitting in the studio. This is the United media complex in full force and in a world where podcasts have to do their bit to stand out, it seems Scholes and Butt are happy to get their elbows out in a bid for a slice of the pie.
Who knows whether Scholes took to Instagram late on Wednesday night to criticise Carrick in an oddly personal and sarcastic attack to boost an audience, knowing full well it would be discussed on the next podcast. Maybe he was speaking his mind after a glass or two of wine.
Both of those seem more likely than the explanation he gave on the podcast on Monday, which takes quite a lot of believing.
"It was in no way intended to be offensive towards Michael," said Scholes. "Michael 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."
Let's rewind back to the offending post, just after United had lost 2-1 at Newcastle on Wednesday night. “Michael has definitely got something special about him, because United have been cr*p last four games," wrote Scholes.
Now for what he said on Monday: "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."
Doesn't really add up, does it? Had he explained it that way after scrappy wins against Everton or Crystal Palace, then maybe he would have got the benefit of the doubt. When he's posting the comment straight after a defeat, well, it just doesn't make any sense.
Carrick will no doubt be asked about Scholes' comments at his next press conference on Friday, and he will almost certainly play them down. There is no evidence of a rift between two former midfielders who are connected by song at every game at the moment.
But while Carrick is proving popular with the United fanbase for the way he has conducted himself since January, delivering results as head coach, refusing to make headlines but defending the club's interests, Scholes is in danger of earning a reputation for unnecessary and personal attacks on his former club.