Michael Carrick responds to Roy Keane’s ‘big mouth’ dig at his wife Lisa | Football

Michael Carrick has dismissed the ‘irrelevant’ opinions of the Manchester United legends who have questioned his appointment at interim boss – insisting a dig from Roy Keane aimed at his wife ‘didn’t bother’ him.

Carrick was officially confirmed as United’s new interim head coach until the end of the season this week following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, beating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the role.

He will take charge of his first game on Saturday afternoon in the derby against Manchester City after plenty of noise over the decision to place him in charge.

Carrick’s appointment has been roundly questioned with former captain Keane particularly scathing – also slamming the decision to hand Jonny Evans a role on the coaching staff.

Keane’s criticism took a personal turn when he said Carrick’s wife Lisa could lead a team talk at Old Trafford because she ‘has a big mouth’.

Keane’s comment appeared to be in reference to a tweet Lisa shared in 2014 in response to the Irishman criticising her husband’s performances.

‘It didn’t bother me,’ Carrick told a press conference on Friday. ‘They’re not putting more pressure on me. I don’t feel that. There are plenty of opinions around, some positive, some not too much. It’s totally irrelevant in terms of what I focus on.

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‘I know what we want to improve on, how we want to work with the players. There’s a lot that can be said, it’s the way of the world.

‘I’m not going to pay too much attention to that. For me, the players and staff it’s a focus on how we’re going to succeed.’

Carrick effectively replaced Keane in United’s midfield following the latter’s explosive departure from Old Trafford in 2005. Carrick signed a year later from Tottenham.

The former Republic of Ireland international took aim at the midfielder following United’s defeat to Olympiacos in the Champions League back in 2014, insisting Carrick’s post-match interview was ‘as flat as the performance’.

United lost that first leg match 2-0 in Greece before completing a comeback to reach the quarter-finals in the second leg.

Keane’s comments on ITV that night prompted a tweet from Carrick’s wife Lisa that said: ‘Roy Keane what a **** says anything to provoke a reaction.’

She later deleted the tweet, explaining in a follow-up post: ‘Emotions got the better of me… Just disappointed.’

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