Manchester United: Paul Scholes did not intend to insult Michael Carrick

Paul Scholes said an Instagram post about Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick was “in no way intended to be offensive” towards his former teammate.

After United’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United last Wednesday – their first loss under Carrick – Scholes wrote: “Michael certainly has something of his own… because United have been… [expletive] The last four games.”

Scholes, who played alongside Carrick in United’s midfield for seven years, was criticized for his comments, with former teammate Patrice Evra saying: “I hope he breaks through.”

The 51-year-old clarified his post on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast on Monday alongside former Reds players Wes Brown and Nicky Butt, saying he had spoken to Carrick about the issue.

The former England international said: “It was in no way intended to offend Michael.”

“Michael is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in football and he would be the last person I would want to offend.

“I messaged Michael anyway. I went straight to Michael and said, ‘Look, I never meant to bother you.’ I don’t think I needed to say that anyway, and he told me himself he wasn’t bothered by it.”

Carrick took over after the sacking of Ruben Amorim and is unbeaten in his first seven games, but United’s latest performances have not matched those that beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham at the start of his time at the helm.

The team currently ranks third in the league and is in a good position to qualify for the Champions League.

“I think people have understood it differently than it was intended,” Scholes added.

“The only thing I was saying is that I don’t think they have played well in the last four games and he can still get results.

“We had the greatest coach in the world and he always said sometimes you need a little luck. So with the sending-offs and different things that happen during matches, sometimes you need a little luck, that’s all I was saying.”

Brown added: “I can see it both ways. When Scholes explained it to me, it made perfect sense. But the way I read it was as if he was trying to attack it.”

Scholes replied: “What Wes said, and I’ve never heard that before, is that I was saying he’s just a lucky coach. I wasn’t saying that, I was saying he’s a very talented coach because he gets results with a team. In the last four games since the West Ham game, I didn’t think they were playing well, that’s all.”

Earlier this year, United defender Lisandro Martinez responded to Butt and Scholes’ comments.