Since Carrick was appointed to steady the ship until the end of the season, United have picked up more points than any other Premier League club. But Keane still believes his former club can do better. Appearing on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s draw with Tottenham, the former United captain insisted the reins should be handed over to a big name ahead of next season.
“I think there are better options,” Keene said. “I think he did a very good job in the games he went in and won the football games.
“He’s obviously simplifying things, but there was no danger in those games. He had a few free weeks to prepare for the game. It was a good time for him to come into the game and he did a very good job.”
“Hats off to him. If he gets the job in the summer, I’ll say, ‘Good luck.’ But I think there are better options.”
Ashley Young was also in the Sky Sports studio and argued that Carrick deserved to stay on, but Keane was unwilling to back down and dug in his heels.
“Other people might be excited about finishing third in the league, but I’m not. I’m not one of them. I don’t get excited about things like that. I get excited when a team is winning trophies and competing week in and week out.”
Of course, it will be impossible for Carrick to win a trophy between now and the end of the season, given that United are not in Europe and have already been eliminated in both domestic cup competitions.
Mathematically, they still have a chance of winning the Premier League title, but reality paints a different picture than the two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester City.
This came days after Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to comment on suggestions that Carrick be rewarded for his success in the permanent manager’s job.
Speaking to Sky Sports at the Chinese Grand Prix, the INEOS billionaire said: “He’s doing a great job. Yeah, absolutely.”
However, he declined to comment on whether Carrick would stay on after the season, saying: “I’m not going there.”
