Man Utd Legends Clash in Heated Michael Carrick Debate: "That's Mad Talk!"
Rio Ferdinand has adopted a contrasting position to his former colleagues Gary Neville and Roy Keane regarding whether Michael Carrick should become Manchester United's permanent manager.
After being appointed as caretaker manager this month, Carrick has guided the team to remarkable victories against Manchester City and Arsenal, who sit second and first in the Premier League table.
His predecessor Ruben Amorim required 11 months and 35 matches to secure back-to-back league victories. This eventually extended to three consecutive wins when United defeated Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion in succession during October. However, he failed to repeat this achievement.
By comparison, Carrick managed consecutive victories within his initial 12 days and accomplished this feat in just two matches—against the nation's top two clubs.
Following the Manchester derby triumph, the Arsenal victory failed to change Keane's assessment of Carrick, whose spouse the former United captain recently called a "big mouth" in an unusual revival of their 2014 dispute. Carrick himself continues to be "not bothered" by the situation.
Keane remains so convinced that Carrick doesn't merit permanent appointment that even a flawless record for the remainder of 2025–26 wouldn't justify the decision in his view.
"I believe if United triumph in every match from this point until season's end, I still wouldn't offer him the position. I simply think they require a more prominent, seasoned manager. That's it," Keane declared on Sky Sports. "I don't think he's the individual to restore Manchester United to championship-winning form."
Gary Neville echoed the sentiment that Carrick lacks sufficient gravitas for the permanent role, though with less harsh delivery.
"Manchester United have made emotional decisions repeatedly over the past 12 years," he commented.
"I genuinely couldn't be more pleased with these past two weeks. The recognition in what I'm observing feels like watching my club perform authentically again. They competed properly, with vigor. I believe Carrick should retain the position through season's end before passing responsibility to [Thomas] Tuchel or [Carlo] Ancelotti, someone of that elite caliber."
Ferdinand: 'The Disrespect Is Unbelievable'
Ferdinand: 'The Disrespect Is Unbelievable'
While there might be merit to these reservations, considering Ole Gunnar Solskjær's excellent interim performance and subsequent inability to secure silverware when it mattered, Ferdinand has strongly objected to Carrick being dismissed so hastily by his former teammates.
Ferdinand was Carrick's teammate for three seasons beyond Neville's tenure, while Keane departed the club controversially six months prior to his 2006 signing and never played alongside him.
"Michael Carrick's stepped in, adjusted his long coat collar and declared: 'Listen everyone, support me, I'll establish a framework that actually fits our current players, we'll be difficult opponents, we'll work diligently, and we'll pose a threat. And incidentally, my opening two fixtures are Man City and Arsenal,'" Ferdinand stated on his YouTube channel.
The former defender expressed amazement at his ex-teammates' reactions.
"He's secured six points and people are claiming that regardless of Michael Carrick's achievements, he shouldn't receive the chance to manage Man Utd," the former defender stated with astonishment.
"Where are you people getting this from? The lack of respect is incredible.
"For someone to declare that regardless of this person's accomplishments, he doesn't merit being handed Man Utd's reins, what basis supports such claims? That's absurd reasoning."