‘People are telling me…’ Ferdinand reacts to what he’s hearing out of Man Utd after Arsenal triumph

Rio Ferdinand has poured praise onto Michael Carrick following his scintillating start as Manchester United’s interim manager.

For a coach, especially one on the younger side, heading into a new job, you’d struggle to find a more difficult double-header of fixtures than the ones Carrick walked into.

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Hosting arch-rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford while they vie to make up the gap and displace Arsenal atop the table, followed by the Premier League leaders on their home soil, where they have yet to taste defeat all season.

Yet, remarkably, the two sides were no match for Carrick’s triumphant Red Devils.

United overturned the Blues 2-0 in the 198th instalment of the Manchester derby before recording a sensational 3-2 victory over Arsenal in North London last night.

The back-to-back wins have ensured that United rounded off matchweek 23 in fourth place, above both Chelsea and Liverpool, who are desperate to secure Champions League qualification themselves.

Despite the five-star displays , Roy Keane said at full-time last night that he would not give Carrick the permanent manager position even if the former Red won every single fixture from now until May.

– Sunday, 25 January 2026

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Doing so would be a repeat of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign, as he was initially brought in to steady the ship on a short-term basis before his impressive record saw him appointed on a permanent contract.

Indirectly reacting to Keane’s comments on Sky Sports with a quickly released podcast video, Ferdinand had his say.

“Two weeks ago, it was a sorry state of affairs. We [United] were the butt of everyone’s jokes. It was a debacle that we were looking at,” said Ferdinand.

“Michael Carrick’s come in and turned the collar up on his long trench coat, and said, ‘Listen, guys, get behind me.’

“I’m going to put you in a structure that’s going to suit the layers we have. We’re going to be hard to play against, we’re going to work hard, and we’re going to be a threat.

“And by the way, my first two games are Man City and Arsenal – and he’s gone and got six points. People are telling me that no matter what Michael Carrick does, he shouldn’t get an opportunity to manage Man United . The disrespect is unbelievable.”

– Sunday, 25 January 2026

More Stories / Latest News

‘People are telling me…’ Ferdinand reacts to what he’s hearing out of Man Utd after Arsenal triumph

Jan 26 2026, 9:53

‘Getting closer’: One of Man Utd’s three main PL midfielder targets has now green-lit a five-year deal

Jan 26 2026, 8:00

‘Cool, calm, beautiful’: Keane voices rare praise for Man Utd man who’s showing ‘exactly’ why they bought him

Jan 26 2026, 6:45