Rio Ferdinand has hit back at former Manchester United team-mates Roy Keane and Gary Neville after they criticised Michael Carrick, saying the pair showed “unbelievable disrespect” to the ex-United midfielder.
Ferdinand made his feelings clear while discussing Carrick’s time in the United side and the way he has been spoken about in recent debates involving the club’s past players.
Carrick spent 12 years at Old Trafford after joining from Tottenham, winning major honours and becoming a key figure in the middle of the pitch. Ferdinand insisted that contribution should not be dismissed and questioned why Carrick’s standing continues to be challenged.
“Where the hell are you coming from?!” Ferdinand said, as he took aim at the tone of the criticism aimed at Carrick.
Ferdinand argued that Carrick’s role was often misunderstood and that his influence on United teams across different managers was clear to those who played alongside him.
The former United defender also took issue with what he felt was a lack of respect from club icons, pointing directly to Keane and Neville during his comments and saying the way Carrick was spoken about crossed a line.
Carrick, who later returned to United as a coach and briefly served as caretaker manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure, has built a reputation as a calm presence on and off the pitch. Ferdinand’s message was that those qualities and his achievements at the club deserve proper recognition.
