Roy Keane makes sudden u-turn on Michael Carrick getting the Man United job permanently after previous war of words involving the interim manager’s wife: ‘I hope they give it to him’

Roy Keane has insisted he wants Michael Carrick to be handed the permanent Manchester United job – in a seeming u-turn from his previous comments.

The legendary midfielder says he ‘hopes’ United appoint him long-term and praised his work after Carrick masterminded wins against Manchester City and Arsenal.

However, in mitigation, Keane still believes that United can ‘get a better manager’ in the summer and says that it wouldn’t be the ‘right decision’ to hire Carrick. 

Keane sparked a strong reaction on Sunday when he claimed that he wouldn’t give Carrick the job even if he won the remaining 15 games of the season – a run which would put them in the Premier League title conversation. 

Daily Mail Sport’s Nathan Salt even called for Keane to be taken off United games by Sky Sports due to his ’embarrassing’ agenda against Carrick – but the Irishman has now softened his stance. 

He told The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast: ‘I hope they give it [the permanent job] to him. I hope they give it to him in the summer.’

It marks a softening of his stance towards Carrick, who he previously insisted should not get the job even if he wins every remaining game this season

Gary Neville then butted in to remind Keane of what he had said the other day, but Keane interrupted: ‘I don’t think it’s the right decision, good luck with it.

‘Yeah, but, I’m sticking to my guns. I’ve said my piece, I think that he’s got the job, and if he gets it in the summer then you go “listen, good luck to him”, but as a caretaker manager, it’s a different animal to being manager of United trying to win league titles over the next two, three, four, five years, whatever it might be.

‘I think you can get a better manager than Carrick, absolutely. But I think he’s doing a good job, perfect timing for him, and even if he doesn’t get the United job, these results a bit like Ruud [Van Nistelrooy], he can get another job, probably another Premiership manager.

‘But just cause you’re doing well at United, it doesn’t mean he’ll do well at another club. 

‘He’s got the players back, it’s all been sliding doors moments. Great for him, and he’s took advantage of it.’

So, Keane hasn’t changed his mind completely about Carrick, but he has adopted a slightly more mellow angle towards him.

He also encouraged fans to not get carried away too much, saying: ‘It’s still only two games. United beat Liverpool earlier in the season. They’ve found ways to win games of football before. 

‘It’s definitely been better, but let’s see over the next few months and the next year or two. Let’s not get carried away.

United have beaten Manchester City and Arsenal in their two matches managed by Carrick

‘The attacking play has been excellent, but they gave up two goals at Arsenal.’

United have hauled themselves up to fourth in the Premier League thanks to beating City at home and Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Returning to a 4-2-3-1, with Bruno Fernandes as a number 10 and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, has made United a much more exciting team. 

Patrick Dorgu has started both games on the left win and been a revelation, scoring in both, including an absolute screamer against Arsenal.

It led to Neville saying he has been ‘blown away’ by United and feeling like the ‘magic has returned’ on Sky Sports. 

However, Keane was not so onboard. ‘Two great performances but anyone can win two games,’ he said. 

‘Even if they do get into fourth, I still wouldn’t be convinced he’s the man for the job. Absolutely not.

‘They need a bigger and better manager. But he has got the opportunity and what a chance for him, and you know what, he’s taking it.’

Moreover, he took a cheap shot at Carrick’s wife, Lisa Roughead, reigniting a dormant feud.

The Man United legend, 54, speaking in his role as a pundit, accused Lisa of having ‘a big mouth’ and made a tongue-in-cheek remark about her giving Man United a team talk now her husband is in charge.

‘His wife can always come in [if Carrick doesn’t do well], cause she’s got a bit of a big mouth sometimes. She’s probably doing the team talk,’ Keane said on the Stick to Football podcast.

Keane’s jibe has reopened old wounds after his brief spat with Lisa back in 2014.

Man United had lost 2-0 against Olympiacos and Carrick was in the side that day, while Keane was a pundit on TV covering the match.

Carrick fronted up and gave an interview afterwards, to which Keane responded in the studio afterwards: ‘That interview was just like the performance, flat. He should say a bit more, have a bit more urgency, even in the interview.’

Lisa was infuriated and took to Twitter, now X, writing: ‘Roy Keane what a ****, says anything to provoke a reaction.’

She then hastily deleted her post and regretfully added: ‘Deleted my tweet… Emotions got the better of me.’