Michael Carrick has emphasized that he did not take offense to Paul Scholes’ critique of his Manchester United team. Scholes attracted attention from fans with a social media post that seemed to target Carrick following United’s loss to Newcastle.
In an Instagram post, the former United midfielder mentioned, “Michael has definitely got something about him…cos United have been crap last 4 games…night.” This came after a 10-man Newcastle secured a late 2-1 victory over United at St James’ Park, marking Carrick’s first defeat since assuming the interim managerial role in January.
Having played alongside Scholes in United’s midfield for seven years, some interpreted the comments as indicating a personal issue between the two, now on opposite sides of the manager-media relationship.
Scholes later clarified that he did not intend to offend his former teammate and reached out to clear the air. During a press conference ahead of United’s match against Aston Villa in the Premier League, Carrick expressed that the matter was now resolved.
Carrick stated, “There’s nothing more to say about it really. I think that’s just the nature of social media and how things can be interpreted differently. Different opinions exist, and it’s fine for people to have varying viewpoints.”
Scholes, speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, explained, “It was not meant to be offensive towards Michael. Michael is one of the nicest people in football, and the last person I would want to upset.” He also mentioned that he had directly contacted Carrick to clarify that there was no ill intent.
Moreover, Scholes highlighted that his comments regarding United’s recent performances were not meant to be negative towards Carrick but rather a reflection on the team’s results amidst challenging circumstances.
For football enthusiasts, Sky has unveiled reduced prices for its Essential TV and Sky Sports package for the 2025/26 season, offering significant savings and access to over 1,400 live matches across various leagues. Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League games each season, with additional coverage of Formula 1, darts, golf, and more.