Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s treatment of Michael Carrick is shameful

Detailed summary

All without telling the man who it affects the most. The way Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the figure that ultimately makes the final call, has treated a club legend, who has served the club…

Michael Carrick can at least hold his head high, leave Manchester United with his dignity still intact and supporters backing him. Despite the efforts of those above to sully his good name.

In a digital age, where video calls can be made anywhere, from the toilet to the Carrington boardroom, Carrick reported for work as normal on Wednesday while his bosses sauntered off to the French Riviera to make the decision they have known about since Monday, along with the rest of the world.

All without telling the man who it affects the most. The way Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the figure that ultimately makes the final call, has treated a club legend, who has served the club for over 20 years with the utmost respect, leaves a sour taste.

And that is a feeling shared by many inside the club. It is felt that Carrick was always in over his head and, to quote a famous Mancunian internet sage, he only really got the job “on a technicality”.

To then not back him properly in the summer, leaving him with the same backline that started a home defeat at Brighton in Erik ten Hag’s first game in charge four years ago, effectively set Carrick up for failure.

Throughout it all, despite numerous personal attempts to get him to call out his overlords, Carrick has not once rounded on the club. He has always maintained that he will only do what is best for United, and his actions speak louder than any words ever could.

The overriding feeling from those within Old Trafford, even among some of the players, is that United’s problems go well beyond the coach, and Carrick is simply being hung out to dry.

Director of football Jason Wilcox is the latest public enemy No 1 among supporters. They lay the blame for the neglect of the squad firmly at his door, while Omar Berrada is not on any Christmas card lists over his involvement in a new stadium project that is fast becoming as unpopular a construction as HS2.

Wilcox and Berrada are understood to retain the full backing of Ratcliffe and Ineos, despite supporter…

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