Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham had a toxic feud at Manchester United before settling their differences

Manchester United’s success in the late 1990s and early 2000s unfolded against the backdrop of a bitter rivalry between two of their most important players.

It is widely known that Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham failed to see eye to eye during their four years together at United, a spell that included the historic Treble in 1999. Yet fewer people are aware of the deep-seated animosity between the pair that ultimately led to them coming to blows in the tunnel, with Roy Keane, of all people, briefly stepping in as peacemaker.

It all began in 1995, two years before Sheringham moved from Tottenham to Old Trafford. The duo were on England duty, with Cole making his debut off the bench as a substitute for Sheringham in a friendly against Uruguay. The pair were barely acquainted, yet Cole was left feeling slighted when Sheringham rebuffed his offer of a handshake.

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Writing for the Independant in 2010, Cole said: “I don’t even know the bloke, so he can’t have any issue with me. We’re fellow England players, it is my debut and he snubs me. From that moment on, I knew Sheringham was not for me.”

In the same column, Cole admitted he would sooner sit down for a cup of tea with Neil Ruddock – the defender who left him with two broken ankles following a tackle in a reserve match – than with Sheringham. Despite their fractious relationship, the pair forged a remarkable partnership on the pitch.

Cole added: “I never spoke a single word to him. People wonder how on earth we could function like that. [United defender] Gary Pallister once said to me, ‘I know you don’t speak to Teddy and he doesn’t speak to you, but at least you play well together.’ We did, and I wouldn’t ever cast aspersions on Sheringham’s talent as a top-rate footballer for his clubs and country. I’ve just loathed him personally for 15 years.”

The two were more inclined to trade blows than pleasantries. One notorious incident in 1998, following a draw with Bolton, saw Sheringham blame Cole for a goal before a remarkable intervention from Keane.

In his autobiography, Cole wrote: “Teddy turned around, looked me in the eyes and growled, ‘Their goal was your fault.’ What? I scored the equaliser, and now he’s saying that! I run up the tunnel and just as he gets to the dressing room, I’m ready to steam in. I’m screaming all sorts and trying to throw punches, but everyone’s on me, pulling us apart.

“The next thing I know, Roy Keane has me up against the wall and he’s shouting in my face, ‘What the **** are you doing, Coley? Sort yourself out. We’re a team.'”

According to Cole, Keane then turned the aggressor himself. Cole added: “I’m not hearing him, but I calm down, and suddenly Roy is going for Teddy, ripping into him, and it’s our turn to try to pull them apart.

“‘What’s all that about, Skip?’ I ask a clearly incensed Keane. ‘You wanting to fight him reminded me of what a****** he was to me at Nottingham Forest!'”

However, their dispute reached a positive conclusion after an unexpected encounter in a nightclub. Speaking to talkSPORT in 2023, Sheringham said he initially worried about another confrontation before the pair eventually shook hands.

He said: “I thought, ‘Hello, this could turn a bit nasty.’ I don’t know whether he’s going to try and put one on me or what. He walked over and said, ‘Ted, look, let’s let bygones be bygones and forget about what’s happened and move on.’

“He put his hand out and I was like, ‘Wow, I did not expect that Andy.’ But yeah I’m happy to do that, put my hand out and shook hands.”

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Manchester United icon Roy Keane’s mother passed away on Friday and ITV paid their condolences after the pundit missed England’s clash against Uruguay on Friday night

ITV have paid their condolences to Roy Keane, following the passing of his mother, Marie. The Irishman was due to be in action for the broadcaster this evening, but pulled out following the tragic loss.

The mother-of-five died aged 79, surrounded by her loving family at Marymount University Hospital and Hospice in Cork on Friday morning. Keane previously described Marie as “the only boss I listen to.”

Ahead of England’s friendly match against Uruguay, ITV took the opportunity to pay tribute to Keane and sent their best wishes.

ITV presenter Mark Pougatch was joined by Arsenal legend Ian Wright and former Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes.

“Everyone here and all of us at ITV sends our condolences to Roy and his family on the sad passing of his mother Marie,” Pougatch said at the start of ITV’s broadcast.

READ MORE: Roy Keane’s mother – the ‘only boss I ever listened to’ – has died

“All of our thoughts are with the Keane family this evening.”

During an episode of Stick to Football last year, Keane became emotional after coming across a photograph of his parents while going through his career memorabilia.

The Manchester United legend was comforted by Ian Wright, Jill Scott, and Gary Neville, with the moment touching the hearts of many fans.

Keane’s schoolboy club in Cork, Rockmount AFC, were among the first to offer their condolences. They said: “Sincere condolences extended to Keane and Lynch family on the passing of Marie.”

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Ex-Manchester United star remains unconvinced by Michael Carrick and has named his choice for Ruben Amorim’s successor

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes Newcastle boss Eddie Howe would be the right managerial appointment for the club. Michael Carrick has exceeded expectations since returning to Old Trafford on an interim basis in mid-January following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

The ex-United midfielder has overseen a run of form that has seen the club move up to third in the Premier League table and put them in a strong position to secure Champions League qualification for next season. United were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth on Friday evening, but still remain third in the table, and will do regardless of results elsewhere this weekend.

Keane recently claimed that Carrick, 44, should not be the next permanent United head coach, however. It appears the former Republic of Ireland star has already made his choice, with his comments calling for Howe to take charge at the club now resurfacing.

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Speaking on Sky Sports in January, Keane said: “I’d go with Eddie Howe. I like him. I like what he’s done. He’s managed a lot of games. When his teams are at it, they’ll play good football. He has his critics, but I like what he’s done at Newcastle.

“He’s managed seven or 800 games. He’s still a young man. I love his calmness. Maybe Man Utd need a little bit of that. We’ve seen with our previous [appointments], we like people with emotions, but he’s got that calmness. The job he’s done at Newcastle, Champions League and winning a cup, I’d be happy to see him go in there.”

Despite Carrick’s solid record since taking over at United, winning seven, drawing two, and losing just one of his ten games in charge, Keane is not convinced by his former team-mate in the United dugout.

Asked if he would appoint Carrick as United’s permanent manager in the summer after United’s recent 3-1 win over Aston Villa, Keane said on Sky Sports: “No, I think there are better options out there.

“I think the games that he has come in, he has won football matches and done a very good job. He has simplified things, but there has been no jeopardy in those games. They’ve had free weeks to prepare for those matches, it has been good timing for him, and he has done a very good job. I take my hat off to him.

“And if he does get the job in the summer, good luck to him. But I think there are far better options out there for the next manager of Man United.

“If Carrick had been mentioned three months ago as the next United manager you’d have been locked up. He wasn’t even in the reckoning! But with time he has got the opportunity and he has done a very good job. I just think there are better options out there.

“Most players do like a caretaker manager. It’s different when he comes in and has to make a decision about contracts, pre-season and medical staff, transfers and recruitment.

“I think to manage Manchester United, you need someone a lot more experienced in terms of winning trophies, competing in Europe and he hasn’t got that. He might have that in a few years, and he might be in the mix then, but the fact he’s winning football matches at the moment of course gives him a great chance.

“So everyone else can get giddy about Man United being third in the league but I don’t. I’m not one of them. I don’t get all excited for stuff like that. I get excited when teams are winning trophies and competing week in, week out. So, I’m not one to get too giddy.”

Howe is believed to be earning approximately £6million annually in the North East and to have at least three years remaining on his existing contract. Any potential suitor would likely need to fork out a massive eight-figure sum to secure his release.

Asked in October 2025, amid links to United, Howe reaffirmed his commitment to the Magpies. He said: “I’m all in. My commitment here is 100 per cent here and always has been. My family is still here, and we are fighting every day to make a success of what we are doing.”

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Michael Carrick has made a strong impression at Manchester United and Bruno Fernandes has maintained good form under his management

Michael Carrick has made an impressive start in his second stint as Manchester United’s interim manager. Bruno Fernandes is one player who has particularly flourished under his stewardship.

Ruben Amorim was dismissed at United in January following a poor run of results, with his team selection drawing significant criticism. Club captain Fernandes was frequently cited as being deployed in an unfamiliar role.

Under Carrick, the Portuguese midfielder has excelled, yet club legend Wayne Rooney still opted to overlook the 31-year-old, as the Manchester Evening News brings you all the latest developments from Old Trafford.

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Wayne Rooney’s snub

Speaking on Stick to Football, Rooney alongside fellow legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville were questioned about whether Fernandes deserves a place in an all-time United XI.

“I think Bruno is a top player but to get into Manchester United’s all-time XI, I don’t think so,” said Rooney. “Well, you think you’ve got [Eric] Cantona, you’ve got all the midfielders and all the attacking players. I just don’t think, just on stats alone.”

Neville added: “You are talking about getting in front of people like Bobby Charlton in that attacking midfield position. [George] Best, Charlton, [Paul] Scholes…”

Keane also weighed in: “What if Bruno leaves in the next couple of years and he’s not got even a couple of league titles under his belt? Part of your greatness has to be getting your hands on trophies, it has to be.”

Manuel Ugarte told to leave

Midfielder Manuel Ugarte arrived at Old Trafford in summer 2024 from Paris Saint-Germain and whilst he was expected to become a crucial midfield component, he has fallen short of expectations.

The transfer could ultimately cost United up to £50million should certain add-ons be triggered, and he signed a five-year contract running until 2029. However, fellow Uruguayan and former Premier League star Gus Poyet has witnessed enough of the 24-year-old in England.

When questioned whether Ugarte should pursue a departure this summer, Poyet told GOAL: “Yeah, and it has affected me a lot because he’s from Uruguay and before he went to Paris Saint-Germain, I wanted him to come to Chelsea.

“I don’t know him, so I couldn’t call him! And he went to Paris Saint-Germain and I was a little bit upset because I thought it was perfect at that time for Chelsea. But after that, he kind of didn’t kick on. Paris Saint-Germain and now Man United.

“He needs to find the right club. I think he’s a top player. I think he’s a top central midfielder. I think he can cover the pitch well. He can cover spaces. He can defend well. But he needs to find the team. He needs to find, I would say, the identity of a club to be able to play every week because he has even lost his main position at the national team.”

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Roy Keane has delivered his verdict on whether Michael Carrick should be given the permanent Manchester United head coach role after Sunday’s win against Aston Villa

Roy Keane has doubled down on his opinion that Michael Carrick should not be the next permanent Manchester United head coach. Carrick, 44, has done an excellent job since returning to Old Trafford on an interim basis in mid-January, winning seven and drawing one of his nine matches in charge.

It’s a run of form that has seen United move up to third in the Premier League table and put them in a strong position to secure Champions League qualification for next season. But while the Reds have enjoyed a drastic uptick in form since Carrick’s appointment, Keane does not think he is the right man to lead the club full-time.

When asked if he would appoint Carrick as United’s permanent manager in the summer, Keane said on Sky Sports: “No, I think there are better options out there.

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“I think the games that he has come in, he has won football matches and done a very good job. He has simplified things, but there has been no jeopardy in those games. They’ve had free weeks to prepare for those matches, it has been good timing for him, and he has done a very good job. I take my hat off to him.

“And if he does get the job in the summer, good luck to him. But I think there are far better options out there for the next manager of Man United. If Carrick had been mentioned three months ago as the next United manager you’d have been locked up. He wasn’t even in the reckoning! But with time he has got the opportunity and he has done a very good job. I just think there are better options out there.”

Meanwhile, ex-United forward Rooney shared a different opinion to Keane. Indeed, the 40-year-old told BBC 5 Live that he would give Carrick the full-time gig at the end of the season. “100 per cent he should,” Rooney responded, when asked if Carrick should be given the permanent role.

“I knew this was going happen with Michael Carrick, I know him very well, I know his character and personality,” Rooney continued. “It needed a calm head, but someone who knows the place and the players needed some love and he’s give them that. We’re seeing the players play with more quality, we’re seeing them more together as a team and they look like a very strong team.

“So, for me, why would you change? You’ve got someone come in who’s got I think the best win percentage of any Manchester United manager after that many games, so, for me, he has to get the job.”

Keane and Rooney were speaking after United further strengthened their Champions League hopes with a deserved 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Sunday. The Reds took the lead just after half-time through Casemiro but were pegged back as Villa equalised when Ross Barkley thundered a shot past Senne Lammens.

But Carrick’s side showed character and responded by going back in front as Matheus Cunha fired home before Benjamin Sesko wrapped up the win with a late strike.

“We can enjoy winning,” Carrick said post-match. “It’s a good feeling and something we want to keep getting used to. “We are keeping a lid on it and understanding where we are and what it takes to win games like today. We are in a good position at the moment but still a lot to play for.”

Ex-United midfielder Keane first claimed that he doesn’t think Carrick should be the club’s next permanent head coach after his second game back in January. Speaking following a 3-2 win at Arsenal, Keane praised the impact Carrick made after back-to-back wins but felt he isn’t the “right man for the job”.

“Two great performances but anyone can win two games,” Keane said at the time. If United win every game until the end of the season, I still wouldn’t be giving him the job. I still wouldn’t be convinced he’s the man for the job. Absolutely not. They need a bigger and better manager. The size of the club and the challenges they face over the next few years, you want a manager who you feel can get them winning league titles.

“Are we going to sit here and believe Michael Carrick can get United winning league titles? It’s not enough for me. I don’t believe he is the man to get them winning league titles.”

Next up for United is a trip to Bournemouth on Friday night. They would move six points clear of fourth-place Aston Villa, eight above Liverpool in fifth and six ahead of Chelsea in sixth with a win at the Vitality Stadium.

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Manchester United starlet JJ Gabriel appears to be destined for a great future, but only if he heeds the advice of those who came before him

JJ Gabriel already carries a great deal of pressure on his shoulders despite being just 15 years of age.

Luckily for him, the Manchester United wonderkid is at a club which has developed a plethora of other talents in the past, allowing them to go from academy prospects to genuine world beaters. Gabriel is currently one of the most exciting youngsters at Carrington, having been a revelation for the Under-18s this season despite his tender age.

He has even been called up to train with the first-team by Michael Carrick and his predecessor Ruben Amorim this season. However, the London-born forward will have to stay patient before earning his first minutes under Carrick, given he is ineligible to play Premier League or Premier League 2 football until next season.

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And while there is no doubting his quality, there are certain traits Gabriel still needs to develop and rules he needs to adhere to in order to guarantee his inclusion in the first team, just as the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo did before him.

The Manchester Evening News now takes a look at some of the lessons some past United greats have shared, which will help the highly-rated teenager reach his true potential and enjoy a stellar career.

Roy Keane

Former United captain Roy Keane previously explained how a player, even one as gifted as Gabriel, cannot be labelled world class unless they manage to play at a consistently high level for many years. Keane lifted almost every trophy there was to win during his time as skipper and will know very well what it takes to be a world class player.

The pundit believes very few of his former team-mates managed to reach those heights due to a lack of consistency – a crucial lesson for Gabriel if he ever hopes to become a world class player himself.

The Irishman used his former team-mate Ryan Giggs as an example, saying: “If I look back now, you’d have to class Giggsy. I always class the world-class players as lads who were doing it for nine, 10, 11 [years] – obviously, Giggsy’s done it for a lot longer. To me, that’s the key to being a really good player: you’ve got to be consistent.”

Ryan Giggs

Giggs himself has explained what it takes to make it through the United academy and become a star previously, by recalling his own journey and mindset. The Welshman, who has more Premier League titles than any other player in history, came through the ranks with the famous Class of ‘92, who each went on to become important first-team players.

The winger revealed the key trait that made each of them successful was a fire in their belly to win and to constantly improve. He recalled how he and his young team-mates were so competitive on the training ground that they often played on the edge of what could be deemed acceptable.

“When I was growing up in the youth team literally I would do anything to win a five-a-side game, against my best friends in Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, we’d be kicking each other and if you lost it would be with you for the rest of the day and this is the day before the game, an eight-minute, nine-minute five-a-side game,” Giggs told beIN SPORTS.

“Whereas in my experience now you see players coming off and they’ve just lost a small-sided game and they’re laughing and joking and I’m like ‘you’ve just lost a game’. Even if it doesn’t mean anything, it’s that winning mentality and doing anything you can to win.

“My youth team coach, Eric Harrison, I can’t remember him giving free-kicks. He would just let you get on with it, you don’t want injuries but he wanted that will to win and he wanted that feeling you’d take into the Saturday. Maybe that’s taken away from the players a little bit now, but you have to find that winning mentality from within somehow. Sir Alex was the master of mind games and psychology.”

Gary Neville

Gary Neville has perhaps been the most outspoken about what it takes for an academy youngster to break into the first team at United. The former right-back even created a list of 14 key bits of advice for young players to adhere to, which used to hang in the academy changing room.

Neville’s list was made up of the following commandments:

1. Choose who you follow.

2. Give 100 per cent all the time. You have never arrived at Manchester United so you must maintain a high standard all the time, every day.

3. Always remember why you began to play football — you loved it for its own sake and not as a means to get money, fame, girls, cars etc.

4. Ownership and responsibility — take care of your own affairs thus learning to do things for yourself, and not relying on others to do things for you: bank accounts, passports and so on. Make your own decisions!

5. Analyse and assess your own performance — be your own coach.

6. Have a strong work ethic — work harder than anyone else and you’ll overtake players with far more talent than you have.

7. Give the profession all that you have got, and you’ll have no regrets.

8. You have to have character and personality to play for Manchester United which you can develop over time.

9. Be a risk taker because it is a different kind of leadership.

10. Success and failure are two sides of the same coin, and you have to deal emotionally with both experiences. Remember that if you win or lose you can still have that Chinese on a Saturday night — keep things in perspective.

11. Learn more about yourself and what works for you.

12. Don’t leave anything to chance.

13. There are different routes to reach the top and very few players go ‘route one’ — like Giggs or [Wayne] Rooney. The challenge for you is to find the right pathway because we’re all different.

14. The ability to deal/cope with injuries is vital and should be approached with a strong mentality. See injury as an opportunity to develop body strength, and ‘reset’ your mind (refresh) for the various challenges ahead.

Roy Keane’s personality isn’t for everyone but his nature is loved by one former Lioness

Jill Scott has insisted her relationship with Roy Keane remains friendly, describing their exchanges as simply “a bit of banter.”

The duo regularly feature on The Overlap alongside other high-profile pundits including Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Ian Wright. Previously, Keane received a warning from Piers Morgan that he risked being “cancelled” by the “snowflake woke brigade” following a joke directed at Scott.

During a discussion about a charity match, the former Manchester City midfielder said: “I was playing in a charity game at the weekend and Marlon Harewood absolutely smashed us! He’s a big guy.”

Keane replied: “And what was the game like,” triggering laughter and objections particularly from Wright, who said: “Roy, you can’t say that! That’s got to go!”

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Broadcaster and Arsenal supporter Morgan subsequently ridiculed the moment on social media, suggesting many would be offended by the remark.

Morgan wrote: “This is very ‘inappropriate’, and will deeply offend every member of the joyless over-sensitive snowflake woke brigade, who will all now demand Roy Keane be cancelled (good luck with that…) – and I laughed my head off [laughing emojis].”

Now, Scott has revealed the real nature of her friendship with Keane following confirmation of her involvement in the Soccer Aid 2026 squad. She told the Mirror: “Yeah, I think, obviously, in the podcast, when things are maybe going viral and stuff like that, it’s all just said in good jest.

“Obviously, we’re good friends. So I feel like we can have a bit of banter and stuff like that. But yeah, obviously everybody loves Roy there.

“I think his opinions on football are amazing and he’s very obviously quick with his comedy as well, but yeah, he’s a great guy and we have a lot of fun as well.”

Scott’s comments demonstrate the enormous respect she holds for her podcasting colleague. The former Lioness, who boasts the second-highest number of England appearances with 161, has even confessed she’s attempting to persuade Keane to participate in the charity match at London Stadium in May.

Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on Sunday 31st May at the London Stadium. Adult tickets start from £20 and juniors from £10: socceraid.org.uk/tickets

Scott added: “I keep trying to get him to do Soccer Aid, actually. We’ve had Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher doing it, which is brilliant.

“So hopefully [he] can team up with some of The Overlap guys because it would be great for them to be involved in Soccer Aid again, because I know Gary and Jamie have loved it over the years.”

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Benjamin Sesko scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season against Everton, but the Manchester United striker is yet to start under Michael Carrick

Gary Neville has called on Benjamin Sesko to be given a chance in the Manchester United starting line-up after his match-winning goal against Everton. The striker came off the bench to score the crucial goal in Monday night’s 1-0 victory.

The goal was the striker’s seventh in the Premier League since joining United back in the summer. Even though he has been restricted to appearances off the bench under Michael Carrick, he has still scored three goals in five appearances.

His form and performances have led to calls for the 22-year-old to start in the weekend’s clash against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Neville has now added to those calls.

Speaking on Stick to Football, he said: “In terms of Sesko he’s going to play him at the weekend, you would think now, he’s definitely grown, a little bit like [Viktor] Gyokeres in these last few weeks.”

Fellow pundit Roy Keane was in agreement and highlighted the main difference he has seen in the striker.

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“Confidence, yeah. But even earlier in the season, I think we mentioned, even though he was missing one or two chances, but he was getting into the good positions,” he said. “You think, ‘He’s doing the right stuff, he’s got a lot of confidence and belief.’”

Neville then asked: “Does he look quicker and more powerful?”

Keane replied: “Isn’t that always the case when someone is scoring goals? Attacking players, the weight has been lifted off their shoulders.

“Maybe the test will be you’ve got to be the main man now, can you take that? He’s coming off the bench and getting up to speed of the game.”

Former Premier League striker Ian Wright also praised Sesko for the way he took the goal against Everton.

“What people underestimate is that the ball has come across to Sesko, his concentration and finish was so [good],” he said. “He had a long time to look at it and people underestimate.

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“They think that’s easy because it’s just him and the goalie, but that finish and the contact, the timing, it was fantastic.”

Neville added: “Everybody in that stadium as the ball came across to him knew what he had to do, it’s a long time to look at it but he just did it.”

Amid the calls over the striker to be given a chance in the starting XI, Sesko has outlined his stance when it comes to starting games. “We are talking, of course, but he [Carrick] believes in me, everyone believes in me,” he said.

“They are getting me ready to start as soon as possible. It’s more about me showing up when it’s important, no matter how many minutes I’m getting, I’m focusing on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins.”

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Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

Michael Carrick has won four of his five matches in charge of Manchester United, but Gary Neville and Roy Keane have been told they are wrong about what should happen next

Gary Neville and Roy Keane have been told they are wrong about Michael Carrick and they must remember that football is unpredictable. Keane last week poured cold water on suggestions that Carrick should be appointed Manchester United’s permanent head coach

The former Republic of Ireland international, who won numerous trophies during his time at Old Trafford, believes Carrick lacks sufficient ‘football knowledge’ to lead his old club to the Premier League title, insisting they must seek a different candidate for the permanent role.

Neville backed Keane’s view and believes that United must ‘get the best’ in their head coach search, with Carrick possibly learning under a proven winner as an assistant, even though the former England international is unbeaten in his first five matches in charge, with the Reds in the Champions League qualification places.

However, former United forward Louis Saha has disagreed with his old team-mates, and he believes the pair have forgotten that football is unpredictable.

“Michael Carrick’s future is a decision for the board and definitely depends on the project,” he told CasinoHawks. “They’ve heard from the manager and others who are interested in the job.

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“They know it’s a difficult one. What Carrick has done in the last five games is amazing because he has managed a transition. A lot of players were not fully confident or sure about how they were going to play, and it gelled very quickly. Everyone is on board now. It has changed.

“I think everyone is allowed to have their opinion, and that’s fine. Definitely, Roy and Gary are well placed to have those very strong feelings. I understand them, but I don’t agree.

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“I really feel like if someone is doing their best and obviously has to improve, he’s not an experienced manager, but an experienced manager can struggle there too.

“Nobody has any guarantees, so it’s really hard for anybody to predict what’s going to happen. We know that there is a definitely different situation if you qualify for Europe or the Champions League; you have different challenges. It’s going to be a challenge for everyone, and even an experienced manager can struggle there.

“It’s just about having the right communication and the right tactics. We’ve seen that he’s able to learn very quickly. I am backing him up. Definitely, it doesn’t mean that he won’t face any challenges or won’t make any mistakes.

“Any experienced player knows that during a career, there are a lot of situations that you can’t predict. This is football. You may end up with the best tactics and still face a better opponent on the day. And everybody is going to criticise you.

“Very experienced players know that, but they tend to forget when they become pundits. They think that everything is very logical. No, it’s not. Football is very, very, very unpredictable.”

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has the backing of Rio Ferdinand after recent performances have revived his Old Trafford career

Rio Ferdinand has highlighted how Kobbie Mainoo’s performances since getting back into the Manchester United line-up under Michael Carrick disproves a theory Roy Keane aired about the midfielder earlier in the campaign.

Before Carrick had been appointed as United’s interim head coach until the end of the season, Mainoo had not started in the Premier League at all in 2025/26. This has now changed with starts in all four victories since the 44-year-old took the Old Trafford hot seat, and a new contract is on the cards.

Underlining the 20-year-old’s resurgence, he completed 33 of 35 attempted final-third passes during Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, leading the Premier League in this statistic for the weekend.

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This particularly area of Mainoo’s abilities that had once been questioned by previous United manager Ruben Amorim, as had the England international’s work ethic by United legend Keane.

Last October as Mainoo was named on the bench for United’s win over Liverpool at Anfield, Keane told Sky Sports: “It obviously seems to be a problem for Mainoo getting into this team.

“The word coming out is they don’t think he can cover the ground that quickly, but if you look at Man Utd’s other midfielders they’ve got, they’re not great at that either.

“As a young player, he has to suck that up and work hard, and when he gets a chance, he has to take it.

“A young player with good potential cannot be guaranteed a place in United’s team. But it will come down to the player himself. Your job every day, every week, is to make sure the manager puts you in the team.

“If the manager deep down doesn’t fancy him? I don’t know. We will find that out in the next few weeks. Because if he doesn’t fancy him, he might have to move him on.”

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Fast-forward to the present day, and fellow United legend Ferdinand believes the young midfielder’s effort in training should never have been a source of debate.

“We asked the question. ‘Is he working? Is he doing what the manager is asking him? Is he putting physical mileage on the training ground?’ There’s no doubt in my mind that you run the amount that he has; it’s concrete that he was working when he wasn’t in the team,” the former defender said, speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

“The tank is empty at 60 minutes, you are on the floor when you haven’t been playing for a while, and then you start. He must be doing some real work. I tip my hat to Kobbie Mainoo.”

Also wading in on the subject after United’s fourth consecutive Premier League victory was Gary Lineker, who went as far to jest Mainoo should consider taking legal action again his former boss Amorim.

“He’s taken a year out of that kid’s career. This kid is a wonderful footballer,” Lineker told The Rest is Football podcast.

“God, he makes it look so easy. He wants the ball, he receives it with anyone around him and he turns, always makes the right decisions, he’s graceful.

“I mean, come on! He’s been absolutely detrimental to his career.”