Jamie Carragher’s wild week from Ferdinand fallout, Salah AFCON row, Pep upset and Everton dig
Jamie Carragher had to come out and defend his comments on AFCON and Mo Salah to round off a week that saw him fallout with Rio Ferdinand, upset Pep Guardiola and make a brutal dig at Everton
Jamie Carragher spent the last week ruffling feathers impeccably as his comments from Mohamed Salah and AFCON to winding up Pep Guardiola all touched several nerves.
The former Liverpool defender would have been reading his name in quite a few headlines over the past week. Most recently, Carragher hit out at ex-Manchester United and former England team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who slammed his comments claiming Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or would not benefit from Egypt winning the AFCON.
Speaking after Liverpool’s win at the Etihad against Manchester City on Sunday, Carragher said that AFCON was not a major tournament, as he compared the competition to the World Cup and Euros.
The Anfield legend was pulled up on Sky Sports by Micah Richards following his comments: “I’ll just say, AFCON is a major tournament. A lot of people at home will say they’re taking that seriously. AFCON is a major tournament, just so you know,” Richards said.
To which Carragher retorted: “Egypt are not going to win the World Cup are they? Richards responded: “No, but AFCON is big. Remember when him and [Sadio] Mane was going for it. ” Carragher then seemed to mutter under his breath, “Oh my god” as Richards said: “I’m just saying.”
Ferdinand later reacted to the remarks, acknowledging that many might agree with Carragher’s comments but insisted it was unfair to knock the competition, saying: “I think that comment is representative of the majority of people out there. I don’t think that’s right.
“I think that’s an ignorant thought process because if you go to Didier Drogba, Abedi Pele, Samuel Eto’o and down to the players now like Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane now, they will tell you: “We have to win this!
“It’s a demand in their countries to win this. Yes, it doesn’t get backed resources-wise like a Euros etc, but that doesn’t mean that you have to devalue it. It’s continent of huge power and a continent that contributes to European football through players immensely, massively.”
Carragher fired back on social media at Ferdinand, replying: “I didn’t say that you clown, stop playing to the gallery like you always do.”
Following the backlash, Carragher tried to clarify his comments on X. “The point I was trying to make yesterday was that Mo Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt in terms of him winning the Ballon d’Or. If Salah had an average season at LFC but won the AFCON and was MVP I don’t think he would win the Ballon d’Or,” he posted.
“Because I don’t think AFCON carries the weight of other tournaments. But if Mbappe had an average season at Real Madrid but won the World Cup/Euros he would still have a great opportunity.
“It’s not just about certain tournaments, [Andriy] Shevchenko (Ukraine) and [Robert] Lewandowski (Poland) were never going to win the WC/Euros to help their case for the prize. I don’t think it’s controversial at all really it’s just a fact.
“I know Mane came 2nd a few years back after winning the tournament but that alone wouldn’t have got him to that position, it was LFC being two games away from a quadruple that played a big role also.
“It’s not disrespectful if I feel the WC/Euros/CP are better tournaments it’s just my opinion when I watch them. Saying it wasn’t a major competition was clumsy but I think most people watching could understand the point I was trying to make.
“The face I pulled when Micah interjected was nothing to do with the merits of the tournament, I just knew as soon as he did what the reaction was going to be! I get a lot people didn’t like what I said and that’s fine.
“I don’t normally respond to things on here with posts like this but I decided to tweet in the end after seeing so many phoneys jumping on the bandwagon and playing to the gallery when they knew what I meant. Good luck MO you little dancer.”
On Saturday, Carragher antagonised Everton supporters as he made a cheeky comment following their 2-2 draw against Manchester United as the Toffees surrendered a 2-0 lead in the last 20 minutes of the game.
Everton were denied a late penalty when VAR stepped in to overturn the decision after Ashley Young was initially adjudged to have been dragged down in the box. Their 2-0 lead and late penalty controversy left many Everton fans leaving Goodison Park feeling like the game had been lost – a stark contrast to the 2-2 draw James Tarkowski’s 98th minute equaliser rescued them against Liverpool.
Following the full-time whistle of United’s point at Goodison, Carragher took to X to joke: “Everton the first team in history to win 2-2 and lose 2-2 in consecutive home games.”
Earlier in his mischief-packed week, Carra had upset Guardiola when he questioned whether Erling Haaland was absent from City’s Champions League defeat against Real Madrid because he didn’t want to face Antonio Rudiger.
Carragher said: “So let me work this out. Haaland has gone to the manager this morning and said he’s not fit? Do you think that has got something to do with Rudiger? Is that because Rudiger is playing? He’s on the bench so he can’t be injured. Is it Rudiger-itis? Is that what we’re saying here?”
Pep didn’t see the funny side of it when he was asked about the comments in the build-up to the clash at the Santiago Bernabeu, angrily snapping back: “Oh, God. Did he say that? Jamie Carragher said that? Oh God.
“Don’t laugh. I don’t know why he makes that so suspicious. Did he say that Haaland didn’t want to play the game?
“It’s not nice – and it’s not true. He (Haaland) was crazy to play the game. He had a problem with his knee and he could not play.”
Haaland remained an unused substitute as a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick inspired Real Madrid to victory and qualification. The Norwegian later missed City’s match against Liverpool entirely.
