Rio Ferdinand shares insight into Carrick’s true feelings on bizarre constant criticism from Keane and Neville

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has shared what Michael Carrick may be thinking about the constant, bizarre criticism from Roy Keane and Gary Neville. Knives out Carrick has done a tremendous job since he was named as Ruben Amorim’s temporary replacement at the start of the year. The weekend’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest marked the 11th victory in 16 games under Carrick. Not only did he secure Champions League football for United with multiple games to spare, but United are also guaranteed to finish in third place in the Premier League table. Beyond the results, however, there has been a marked improvement in performances. In a short period, Carrick has introduced an attractive, front-footed brand of football that has swiftly endeared him to the supporters. Carrick is set to continue as United boss, with a two-year deal on the table. Last week, Fabrizio Romano confirmed as much, even giving his “here we go” catchphrase. Despite all the positivity that has come with Carrick, a handful of former players, most notably Keane, Neville and Paul Scholes, have repeatedly taken digs at him. The trio have argued that United should look beyond Carrick in favour of a world-class manager, although they’ve yet to definitively name who they want instead. Ironically, Keane once mentioned Newcastle’s Eddie Howe as a preferable option over Carrick. Following United’s defeat to Newcastle in March, Scholes sent tongues wagging with a sly jab at Carrick. Although he later walked back his comments, the incident still left a somewhat bitter aftertaste. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Ferdinand insisted the flak from Neville and Keane in particular is unlikely to faze Carrick. Ferdinand remarks The six-time Premier League winner said, “I’ll tell you one thing, Michael Carrick will not give a s**t what Gary Neville or Roy Keane says.” “When he was a player, any comments, any negativity, good or bad comments, were like water off a duck’s back.” “He just brushed it aside, he knew what he was good at, knew what he wanted to do and would just carry on with it and I don’t think he’ll be any different as a manager.” Carrick and his players are next in action on Sunday when they go away to Brighton & Hove Albion in their final game of the season. Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!