Michael Carrick reacts to ‘unprecedented’ Manchester City verdict: ‘Thrown up a lot of questions’

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has said the Manchester City has “thrown up a lot of questions” as he and other Premier League managers spoke for the first time since a verdict was handed down.

City were found guilty of all charges of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-year period, with an independent commission releasing their findings in a damning verdict last week.

City have continued to protest their innocence and have appealed the ruling. Sanctions have yet to be handed down.

Asked for his thoughts on the verdict in a press conference on Friday, before United face Tottenham in their first game since the extended international break, Carrick said: “Very difficult to say in many ways. It’s thrown up a lot of questions, some have had answers, some haven’t. As it’s still ongoing, and we don’t how long it’s going to go, there’s only so much I can say.

“Certainly I’ve got my own questions about it, it’s affected me personally in different ways over a period of time. But as the case is going now I don’t know where that stands and how it’s going to end up, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

“What I will say, the sooner it gets sorted I think for everyone’s benefit is essential.

“There’s so many angles to look at from so many different perspectives, but really speed is essential for everyone to be clear, to be able to deal with it, to be able to move on whatever happens, I think.

“It’s unprecedented, you know, a unique situation to be in this, at this level with such a huge impact in so many ways. So, we all need to know what’s going to happen, really.”

During the period covered by the charges – 2009 to 2018 – United were twice pipped to the Premier League title by their city rivals, most infamously in 2011/12, when City seized the title with Sergio Aguero‘s famous last-minute goal to ensure they won on goal difference.

Carrick was part of the second-placed United team in both seasons and retired from football at the end of 2017/18, when the Red Devils again finished behind City.

Asked for his thoughts on whether trophies should be reallocated and how he would feel getting a medal retrospectively, Carrick said: “I think at the moment, as it’s [the appeal] still not finalised, I think I’ll hold that one until later on. I think regardless of anything, a medal anyway, in any sport in history, I think later on you get the medal, and it’s proven at different times.

“It’s the moment that you strive for to win and achieve in that moment, so the medal here or there, not getting blase about it, but that doesn’t bring the feeling of when you initially win or you don’t win. That’s essentially what we’re all in it for.”