Michael Carrick has shrugged off Paul Scholes’ social-media criticism of him by saying it was “nothing” and saying he was not worried about the barbs from his former Manchester United teammate.
Scholes, Carrick’s sidekick in midfield for eight years when they were players, was critical in an Instagram post after United’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle.
“Michael has definitely got something special about him… cos Utd have been crap last four games,” he wrote.
Scholes subsequently sent a message to Carrick to clarify his comments and said they were not meant to be “offensive”.
But Carrick smiled about it and said: “It was nothing really, there’s nothing to say about it really. I think that is just where we are in terms of social media and captions and quotes. It can be taken in different ways. So just be calm about it and understand the real meaning of things.
“Listen, there are different opinions out there and it’s fine, people can have different opinions. 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.”
Meanwhile, Carrick believes that Harry Maguire has put himself back into the picture for an England recall and hopes Thomas Tuchel selects the defender when he names his squad last week.
Maguire has not played for his country since September 2024 but has been ever present under Carrick in his time at Old Trafford.
And former England international Carrick said: “Harry has been playing well, that is pretty obvious to say. I think he’s just showed his experience in situations, the composure, know what it feels like, and now understands what it takes, and he’s done ever so well.
“Whatever’s going to happen with England is going to happen with England, but he’s definitely put himself back in the frame, if he was ever out of it. Hopefully from my point of view he gets picked.”
