Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick has spoken for the first time about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments on immigration, saying the team is “united”.
Michael Carrick has revealed he has not spoken to or met Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe since his controversial comments (Image: PA)
Manager Michael Carrick has stressed unity in the dressing room, saying Manchester United’s players are “united” following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments on immigration in the UK.
Mr Ratcliffe said in an interview with Sky News that Britain was “colonized by immigrants”.
In response, the Prime Minister demanded an apology from Mr Ratcliffe, and the British billionaire issued a statement the next day saying he was sorry if his choice of words had offended some people, but added: “It is important that we raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration.”
read more: Gary Neville makes ‘wild prediction’ about choosing Arsenal or Man Cityread more: Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford transfer candidate to be named on Manchester United’s decision date revealed
United issued a statement declaring that the club is “proud to be an inclusive and welcoming club”.
Ratcliffe has come under heavy criticism from various United supporter groups, and club officials have also raised internal concerns.
Mr Carrick addressed Mr Ratcliffe’s comments for the first time at a press conference on Friday. The 44-year-old said he was “proud” of everything United represents and praised its “diversity and inclusivity”.
When asked by Carrick whether Ratcliffe had apologized or spoken to the team, the interim head coach said: “To be honest, the last time I saw Jim was at Arsenal and I’m OK with that.”
Follow Man United’s FB page! Keep up with the latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
“I don’t think there’s anything really necessary in my role in terms of constant communication from above. I think my role is to create an environment within the group and obviously lead the first team and beyond.”
“Of course I’m sitting here now and the supporters are listening. That’s part of my role and I’m fully aware of that, but I don’t necessarily always need instructions from above.”
When asked about Sir Alex Ferguson’s well-known belief in unity across football clubs, Carrick said: “Being around here and around the stadium these past few weeks, and certainly being so close in this environment, I think we’re definitely all coming together. It’s clear that we’re more united than ever before. So we’re pretty strong as a group.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has landed himself in hot water. (Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
In a separate development, the Football Association (FA) has decided not to take any action against Ratcliffe.
Despite launching an investigation into whether Mr Ratcliffe had breached regulations, the governing body declined to punish him for his comments.
The FA issued Ratcliffe with a letter reminding him of his obligations when speaking to the media.
Make us your preferred source to ensure the latest sports headlines always appear at the top of your Google searches.
Click here to enable or add us as a preferred source in your Google search settings
