Keane hits out at Carrick after United draw! - Source: Getty
Keane hits out at Carrick after United draw! - Source: Getty
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has accused Michael Carrick of sounding like a politician. The footballer-turned-pundit went after the Red Devils' manager following Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Manchester United came from two goals down twice in the draw with Villa. Alysson scored inside the first minute when Senne Lammens let a shot slip under him. Nicolas Jackson doubled the lead in the fourth minute before Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans dragged the hosts level before the break.
John McGinn's penalty and Leon Goretzka's finish made it 4-2 for the visitors, only for Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu to strike in stoppage time and rescue a point.
Carrick, whose side sit 18th with eight points from 10 league games, was asked whether he would consider walking away and he replied:
"That's not going to happen."
Keane, working for Sky Sports, was not impressed with how Carrick talks to the media. He highlighted how the Englishman behaves like a 'politician', who is heavy on claims of improvement but pays very little attention to details that improve the team:
"It's obviously difficult for the manager. Under pressure, no doubt. He talks a lot but doesn't say much. I don't know if that's a tactic. Like a politician.
"He keeps saying we need to tighten up and there's things we need to work on. But they better get moving on that. It's the worst start in how many years, all these stats aren't very good. If you keep giving up goals and chances, it's just going to continue.
"What are we expecting to change over the next few weeks and months? What are they working on? They need to do a lot better than that."
The Irishman did credit the fight shown by Manchester United, praising them for having a go until the end. Keane still believes conceding four goals at home is dreadful and admitted their performances have been nowhere near good enough to even warrant a mid-table spot.
Roy Keane and Michael Carrick were involved in infamous Manchester United row
The friction between Keane and Carrick is not new. In 2014, after Manchester United lost 2-0 at Olympiacos in the Champions League, Keane was on ITV duty and dismissed then-midfielder Carrick's post-match interview.
"That interview was just like the performance: flat."
Carrick's wife, Lisa, responded with a social media post that she deleted soon after, admitting her emotions had gotten the better of her.
Keane had questioned Carrick's permanent appointment from the start, citing the staff Carrick brought in, and he revived the old subject in January with a jibe on the Stick to Football podcast.
Carrick's answer then was blunt. He said:
"It didn't bother me."
Manchester United next play at Liverpool in the Premier League on November 22.