Paul Scholes Breaks Silence on Michael Carrick's Response to His Explosive Man Utd Criticism
Paul Scholes reached out to Manchester United's interim boss Michael Carrick with an apology after his controversial social media comments potentially caused offense.
The former midfielder removed an Instagram story where he mockingly agreed with comments suggesting Carrick had "something about him," while describing the team's performance as "c---" over their previous four matches following last week's 2–1 loss to Newcastle United.
The criticism was unexpectedly severe from Scholes, drawing backlash from supporters and observers as another United icon publicly questioning the interim manager. Fellow former player Patrice Evra suggested Scholes was deliberately stirring controversy for publicity, while also criticizing Gary Neville and Roy Keane's negative assessments of Carrick.
"Michael is among the most genuine individuals you'll encounter in football," Scholes explained on The Good, The Bad & The Football addressing the backlash. "He would be the last person I'd want to hurt.
"I reached out to Michael directly. I contacted him immediately saying, 'Listen, I never meant to cause you distress.' Though I probably didn't need to explain myself, he assured me he wasn't bothered by it.
"I believe people misinterpreted my intentions. My only point was that their performances haven't been great in the last four matches, yet he's still achieving positive outcomes."
Carrick's Mixed History With Scholes
Carrick's Complex Relationship With Scholes
Scholes ranks 12th among Carrick's most common playing partners during his career. The duo appeared together 160 times, accumulating precisely 9,900 minutes on the field before Scholes' retirement in 2013.
Five years after his own playing days ended, Carrick enthusiastically identified Scholes as the finest player he'd ever partnered with.
"I consistently mention Scholesy because he played alongside me and, as a duo, he was exceptional to work with," Carrick shared with The Mirror. "We had remarkable talents, truly amazing, but I always return to Scholesy."
A bond that appeared mutually respectful became publicly strained in 2021 when Carrick initially took over as United's interim manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjær's dismissal. Solskjær had brought Carrick into his coaching team, and Scholes criticized the new leader for being disloyal to his former boss by accepting the position.
"My sense regarding Ole is that he placed enormous faith in Michael," Scholes stated during a BT Sport broadcast. "He trusted Kieran [McKenna] greatly. He relied heavily on Mike Phelan. That's precisely why they shouldn't remain at the club currently, in my opinion.
"I have close relationships. Michael's a dear friend, Darren Fletcher too, I've collaborated with Mike Phelan and these individuals. I simply believe if I were in their shoes now, I'd feel remorseful still working at this football club, considering how much faith Ole placed in them."
Scholes continued by questioning Carrick's apparent lack of "accountability" for the poor form that led to Solskjær's dismissal, arguing he bore significant responsibility as an assistant and shouldn't escape criticism.
Carrick responded with characteristic tact, revealing he quickly consulted Solskjær for guidance after accepting the interim role.
The current status of their friendship in 2026 remains uncertain, though Scholes has repeatedly expressed publicly his preference for hiring a new permanent manager this summer, highlighting Carrick's limited top-level managerial experience—a reasonable concern given his only previous role was in the Championship with Middlesbrough.
Carrick has chosen not to respond to criticism from high-profile former players. He maintains strong backing from most United supporters following six victories in eight matches as manager, though the battle for Champions League qualification may ultimately determine his future.