Jamie Carragher wrote a full A4 page criticizing Michael Carrick in detail after Manchester United were held to a draw by Everton in stoppage time.
On 7 Sep 2026 GMT+7, it was indeed a full A4 page of critique when Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool legend known as the Reds, harshly criticized fellow countryman Michael Carrick after Manchester United were pegged back to a 2-2 draw by Everton in the final moments of injury time.
Carragher stated, “I think Michael Carrick must take responsibility for this because today it was simply not good enough. I’m sorry, but you cannot manage Manchester United at this level and then make decisions like that. That substitution was confusing; the team immediately lost its attacking advantage, and from the moment he started making changes, you could see the advantage slipping away.”
“What worries me most is that Michael Carrick seemed to run out of solutions once the game became difficult. A top-level manager doesn’t just pick a team and hope for the best. You have to read the game, understand where the threats are coming from, and have the courage to make the right decisions. Michael Carrick failed to do that today.”
“He substituted players who were causing problems for the opposition, which left the team lacking creativity in attack. That is fundamental team management. When you’re leading by just one goal, you shouldn’t weaken your attack and give the opposition a chance to come back.”
“I think it’s time to stop making excuses for him. He’s been given the chance to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world, which comes with enormous pressure. You can’t expect praise when things go well and then hide behind the players when your own decisions cause problems.”
“Today, Michael Carrick was outplanned and outmanaged. Players can take criticism, but the manager must accept that he made serious mistakes. If Manchester United want to compete for major trophies, Michael Carrick needs to improve quickly because performances and decisions like this won’t be enough.”