Michael Carrick brushed off criticism from former Manchester United teammate Paul Scholes on Friday as he prepares his side for a crucial Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
The Red Devils, currently third in the table, will return to action on Sunday following a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United earlier this month. Villa, managed by Unai Emery, sit fourth and are only behind United on goal difference in a tight race for Champions League qualification next season.
The top five teams in the Premier League are almost certain to secure spots in Europe’s premier club competition, adding extra significance to the upcoming fixture.
After the Newcastle defeat, Scholes posted a sarcastic comment on Instagram, joking about Carrick’s management: “Michael has definitely got soing special about him… cos Utd have been crap last four games.” Scholes later clarified that he meant no offence and personally reached out to Carrick to reconcile.
Carrick, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, said he was not dwelling on the jibe. “There’s nothing to say about it, really,” he said. “I think that is just where we are in terms of social media and things, and captions and quotes. It can be taken in different ways, so just be calm about it and understand the real meaning of things.”
The caretaker manager added that differing opinions are normal and that there was no reason to make a major issue of Scholes’ comments. “It’s just things get taken from one extreme to another. It is what it is. I am not worried about it and don’t make a big deal of it either,” he explained.
Carrick also provided a team update, revealing that midfielder Mason Mount has made a “big step” in his recovery and could return from a two-month absence for the Villa game this weekend.
The match between Manchester United and Aston Villa is set to be a key encounter in the Premier League top four race, with both sides vying for a place in next season’s Champions League.
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