Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham has suggested Roy Keane’s brutal criticism of Michael Carrick may come from ‘frustration’ having not been offered the manager’s job himself.
After sacking Ruben Amorim earlier this month, United turned to Carrick to take the reins until the end of the season while the club seek out a permanent option.
The former midfielder, who took charge of four games as interim boss in 2021, was given the nod ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Ruud van Nistelrooy, another former star who had a brief spell in charge, also considered. Carrick’s interim role at Old Trafford is his first job back in the dugout since he was sacked by Middlesbrough last June.
Keane’s name was put forward by a number of his former teammates including Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt although the former Ireland captain was never considered a viable option by INEOS.
In the lead up to last Saturday’s derby match against Manchester City, Keane labelled the situation a ‘circus’, suggesting Carrick’s time at Middlesbrough was a ‘failure’ having also taken aim at the coaching staff, including former defender Jonny Evans. There was also a bizarre dig aimed at Michael Carrick’s wife Lisa, stemming from a social media post made 14 years ago.
Sheringham spent four years playing alongside Keane in perhaps the club’s most successful period in history, winning the Treble in 1998-99 and two more Premier League titles before leaving the club in 2021.
While believing United ‘could do a lot worse’ than bringing in their former captain, Sheringham believes Keane may feel a sense of injustice having been overlooked.
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Speaking to Metro, speaking on behalf of BetMGM, the former England star was asked if the criticism from United’s former heroes has been fuelled by frustration with no longer being involved at Old Trafford. Sheringham said: ‘Maybe, when you talk about Roy Keane, that might be the situation.
‘He was a manager not so long ago and obviously would have had his eyes on the Man United job at one point after learning his trade at Sunderland and Ipswich. He would have been thinking, “one day”. And he’s been overlooked. So maybe there is a case of that.
Carrick’s to-do list – Four things he must fix quickly to halt slide
Manchester United were incredibly generous leading up to Christmas and over the festive period, handing out points at home to Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth and Wolves before draws away to Leeds and Burnley.
But as is stands, they are firmly within touching distance of the Champions League spots, just a point off fifth place.
Even after being knocked out of the FA Cup, there is still plenty to salvage from the season – if Carrick and his staff can make some quick fixes.
Solve Sesko’s struggles up front
Benjamin Sesko has had some fleeting moments of promise this season but the jury is still out. At times, the Slovenia international has looked effective foil for Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, holding the ball up and linking play intelligently in the final third.
But questions over his physicality and unconvincing finishing remain. His performance against Burnley largely summed things up – scoring twice with two excellent finishes in the second-half but only after a thoroughly wretched display in the opening 45 where he could barely keep the ball under control.
Another goal against Brighton on Sunday means the 22-year-old has scored more under Darren Fletcher than he did under Amorim. A change of system and playing style has offered early promise.
Abandon the dreaded 3-4-3
It would serve as a huge shock were Carrick to persist with the system that became nothing but a cross to bear for Amorim.
Carrick very rarely deviated from a 4-2-3-1 formation at Middlesbrough, sometimes to his detriment, with a lack of a ‘plan B’ often cited as one of the reasons his failed to achieve promotion.
But this system appears to be perfectly suited to the Red Devils squad. Too often it has been a case of square pegs in round holes for United over the last year. Simplifying matters may be the interim boss’ best course of action in the six months he has.
Reintegrate Mainoo and revive his United fortunes
As he may have been privately hoping for all season, Kobbie Mainoo has managed to outlast Ruben Amorim. With no Premier League starts to his name, it has been a miserable campaign but the change in system will surely open up a role in midfield for the 20-year-old.
United are desperately short of the controlling, calm presence Carrick once provided in the engine room. Who better to teach Mainoo the ropes.
It’s a two-way street – United need inspiration in midfield and Mainoo needs to deliver if he is to stand any chance of forcing his way into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad heading to the World Cup next summer. There can be no more excuses.
Unleash Fernandes in his old role
Restoring Mainoo to midfield and a shift in system could see Bruno Fernandes restored to the more advanced role where he has historically been at his prolific best in Manchester.
The Portugal international scored 44 goals and laid on 35 assists in his 97 games while Carrick served as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s assistant, averaging 0.81 goal contributions per game.
It might require some tinkering with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo also in the picture but the rewards could be enormous.
Fernandes has performed admirably in his deeper role this season but it is further up the pitch where he is most dangerous. Amid reports the captain has had enough of Old Trafford, keeping him happy is a top priority.
Tony Mogan, live sports editor,
‘Listen, you could do a lot worse than putting Roy Keane in charge and having that sort of influence over things. But having said that, Michael Carrick is in now and I like his manner, the way he is as a person and I think he will do well.’
While there is still plenty to prove, Carrick silenced many of his early doubters as United turned in perhaps their best performance of the season to sweep aside City last weekend.
There was another storm ahead of that game after disparaging remarks made by two other club legends in Scholes and Butt who suggested Erling Haaland would ‘pick up Lisandro Martinez like a toddler’.
Martinez responded with a superb performance up against the City striker, hitting back at Scholes and Butt after the game with the row continuing into this week.
‘It is part of playing for Manchester United,’ Sheringham said. ‘Everyone around the country wants to have their say, but that is the beauty of it.
‘They are still the biggest club in the world. They are huge. You have to adapt to that. People like Keane, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, the Nevilles, they will always have something to say about it, it is their football club from years ago.’
