Manchester United manager Michael Carrick says Manchester City’s financial case has left significant questions unanswered, admitting the controversy has affected him personally.
The 45-year-old called for a swift conclusion as uncertainty persists over potential sanctions should City lose their appeal against an independent commission’s findings.
The commission found City guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club has challenged the verdict.
Carrick experienced several campaigns in which United finished behind City, including the 2011-12 season when Sergio Aguero’s stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers secured City’s first league title in 44 years. He was also involved when United finished second in 2017-18 and later served on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff during their 2020-21 runners-up campaign.
Speaking about the possibility of titles being reassigned if City are punished, Carrick said receiving a medal years later could not recreate the emotions of winning at the time, BBC Sport reported on Friday.
“In football, the strive to win, the emotion and the feeling about winning, a lot of it is in the moment,” he said.
“You can’t take that back. It’s the moment you strive for. That’s essentially what we’re all in it for. That’s the feeling we all crave.”
Carrick added that the journey, anticipation and final outcome were inseparable parts of winning silverware.
“The beauty of trying to win trophies is a little bit the journey towards it and then the finale. Does it go for you, does it go against you? Once that’s done, there’s no getting that back in any direction,” Carrick said.
He declined to take a firm position on reassigned titles until the proceedings are complete.
“It’s thrown up a lot of questions. Some had answers, some haven’t,” he said.
“Certainly, I’ve got my own questions about it. It’s affected me personally in different ways over a period of time.”
Carrick described the case as unprecedented and urged authorities to deliver clarity for the benefit of English football.
“As it’s still not finalised, I think I’ll hold that one until later on,” he said, referring to the question of reassigned titles.
“What I will say is that the sooner it gets sorted, for everyone’s benefit, is essential.
“It’s unprecedented, a unique situation to be in at this level, with such a huge impact in so many ways. We all need to know what’s going to happen.”
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has expressed confidence in the club as its appeal remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, United fans have revived a banner at Old Trafford highlighting City’s trophy drought before Sheikh Mansour’s takeover.
First displayed in 2000, when City had gone 24 years without silverware after winning the 1976 League Cup, the banner was updated annually until 2011, when the club ended the wait by beating Stoke City in the FA Cup final.
