Roy Keane has torn into Michael Carrick’s first major decision at Manchester United after he was named as interim manager after a furious argument with Gary Neville
Roy Keane has ripped into the decision to bring in some of Michael Carrick’s coaching staff at Manchester United – sparking a heated exchange with Gary Neville.
The Irishman hasn’t held back in the criticism of his former club, who this week confirmed Carrick’s return as head coach until the end of the season. With little more than Champions League qualification at stake, that hasn’t prevented the new boss from installing his own team.
Jonny Evans, another former Old Trafford favourite, will be part of the coaching setup. Ex-Leeds defender Jonathan Woodgate, who worked as Carrick’s assistant during his time at Middlesbrough, will also join the staff.
Former England assistant Steve Holland, who previously worked with Gareth Southgate, was the shock appointment, with Neville describing him as “a serious operator” – but Keane tore into the other appointments Carrick made.
The former captain said on Stick to Football: “He’s on the beach two weeks ago Jonny Evans. Jonny Evans leaves Man United four or five weeks ago as a loans manager and then Darren Fletcher gives him a job, strangely enough gives him a job.
“He has two games, Fletch goes and Carrick gives him a job, great isn’t it. We should all go to Barbados for a week. You’re on about getting your coaching staff in, you’re praising one of them saying he’s experienced and then we just let the other two go, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans. What has Jonny Evans done to be a coach of Man United’s first team?”
Keane then took aim at the decision to appoint Holland as assistant manager, prompting Neville to defend the former England coach. He said: “My point is, if Steve Holland is on the training pitch at least you know they’re going to get top class training sessions. I’m not saying they weren’t before because they probably were as well. I don’t know what Evans or Woodgate are like as coaches, don’t know what Carrick is like as a coach.”
Keane questioned whether former professionals “warranted” their positions on the coaching team, but Neville backed the choice to recruit ex-players, arguing that despite the criticism aimed at those in Manchester, numerous clubs have adopted this approach previously.
“I can see why you’d bring in an ex-player who knows the club, Mourinho did that at Chelsea, that’s not an unusual thing,” he said.
Keane then launched another barb at Sir Alex Ferguson and pointed out how Darren Fletcher, another former player, gained no advantage from his club experience. He said: “Before Burnley and Brighton at home…. Fletch knows the club, works with the academy, he knows the girl in the canteen, he rings Sir Alex Ferguson to ask him what colour socks he’s going to wear in the morning. How did the two games go?”.
As the duo continued to spar over the backroom team, Keane shifted away from Holland and persisted in demanding explanations about how and why Evans has been brought in.
He commented: “You don’t know anything about Jonny Evans’ coaching – because he’s never coached! That’s my point! But he’s gone into Man United – but that’s ok because we’ve got Stevie Holland, our new guru! So excited about these people their experience, you worked with him at England..”