MICHAEL CARRICK gave an awkward answer when he was asked whether he had been to see Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Carrick, 44, masterminded the second huge win of his brief United tenure as the Red Devils beat Premier League leaders 3-2 at the Emirates in a thrilling comeback.
Michael Carrick had an awkward laugh when asked about a conversation with Sir Jim RatcliffeCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Carrick was whisked away for a chat with Ratcliffe during his post-Arsenal match interviewsCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha earned Carrick’s side all three points in the club’s first league victory at the Emirates since 2017.
Carrick insisted to reporters following the game that he was not getting carried away with the results as United aim to finish in the top four.
But during his post-match TV media duties he was whisked out of an interview to speak with minority owner Ratcliffe, who was in attendance in north London to watch the game.
Former Premier League star-turned-pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft claimed: “Was standing at my position waiting for our [Michael] Carrick – interview today.
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“Just as I was ready to ask the first question, a representative from Manchester United stopped my preparations and said: – Michael, Sir Jim wants to see!
“So out he went having a chat with him in the tunnel And we got Carrick outside at our table Pitchside, where we could ask him about his ‘meeting.’”
When the former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder did eventually catch up with Fjortoft’s Viaplay, he was asked if he could give any insight on the meeting, saying: “No, not much as you would expect.
“There’s a lot of happy bodies around the camp today and he’s delighted as well. So it was nice to see him.”
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United icon Peter Schmeichel then cheekily asked Carrick whether petrochemicals billionaire Ratcliffe had asked to see him in his office tomorrow, alluding to offering him the full-time job.
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Ex-England international Carrick laughed off the joke before replying: “Not yet, Pete.”
Carrick is in his second spell as temporary head coach of Man Utd.
His first in 2021 following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw him beat two out of his three games in charge – beating Villarreal and Arsenal and drawing to Chelsea.
He stepped down from the role as Ralf Rangnick took charge for the remainder of that season, and headed to Middlesbrough.
Carrick remained in charge there until 2025, when he was sacked after failing to earn promotion.
But the sacking of Ruben Amorim at United at the start of January following his incredible outburst against club chiefs prompted the return of Carrick to the dugout until the end of the season.
He won the Manchester derby against Pep Guardiola in his first game, with United widely praised for a stellar performance against a title challenger, before the 3-2 win away to Arsenal cemented the winning feeling around the squad.
Carrick said of the Arsenal win: “Massively proud, I think it was different to last week. They put us under a lot of pressure in different ways.
“To come here and score three goals, and in the manner we did. Going one down and coming back, and then the setback and then to keep going.
“Matheus with a huge moment for us, the boys had to put a lot in today. It was a massive effort and I am really proud of them.”
SunSport has exclusively lifted the lid on how Carrick has got the team pulling in the same direction with a spruced up training regime and tweaks to the matchday routine.
It will be a different type of test as United take on Fulham at Old Trafford next weekend.
United could be without Dorgu after he appeared to pull up with a hamstring injury before he was subbed off the pitch.
Meanwhile, the FA could yet investigate Cunha and hit him with a ban after he appeared to swear down a camera lens in his jubilant celebrations for the match-winning goal.
