Former Paul Scholes has clarified that his recent Instagram post about Michael Carrick was not meant to offend his former teammate.
Scholes faced criticism after posting a message following Manchester United’s 2–1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United last week.
Controversial Instagram Post
After the match, Scholes wrote on Instagram that Carrick “has definitely got something special about him” while suggesting the team had played poorly in recent games.
Some fans and former players interpreted the comment as criticism of Carrick’s management.
Former United defender Patrice Evra reacted strongly and joked that Scholes’ account may have been hacked.
Scholes Explains His Intentions
Scholes addressed the issue on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast with former teammates Wes Brown and Nicky Butt.
He said his comment was misunderstood and insisted he never intended to offend Carrick.
“Michael is one of the nicest people in football,” Scholes said. “He is the last person I would want to upset.”
Scholes also revealed that he contacted Carrick directly to explain the situation.
“I messaged him straight away and told him I never meant to upset him,” he said. According to Scholes, Carrick confirmed that he was not offended.
Carrick’s Early Results at United
Carrick became interim head coach after the club dismissed Ruben Amorim earlier this season.
He started strongly, remaining unbeaten in his first seven matches as manager. During that run, United recorded important wins against Manchester City, Arsenal, and Fulham.
Despite the recent loss to Newcastle, United still sit third in the league table and remain on track to qualify for the Champions League.
Misunderstood Comment
Scholes explained that his comment only referred to the team’s recent performances.
He said Carrick deserves credit for delivering results even when the team has not played at its best.
Former teammate Wes Brown said he could understand why some people misinterpreted the message.
Scholes added that he never called Carrick a “lucky manager.” Instead, he praised Carrick for managing results during difficult games.
