Carrick laughs off Butt's claim he had doubts about returning to management

Michael Carrick laughed off claims made by former Manchester United teammate Nicky Butt that he had serious reservations about returning to management before taking charge at Old Trafford, insisting he is fully committed to the role and enjoying every challenge it brings.

Speaking on the Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt recalled a conversation with Carrick in which the United boss allegedly said management was “too much” and that his “head’s all over the show” following his sacking by Middlesbrough — adding that he would “only do it for the big job” and that “the big job is Man United.”

Carrick was asked about the comments during his Friday press conference and responded with a smile. “I definitely wouldn’t be here if that was the case, would I?” he said. “At this stage, it’s the best job I could possibly have. It’s the best role I could possibly have. I feel a real privilege of being in this position and a real responsibility, but equally a drive of wanting to make a difference and having success here.”

United are understood to have taken a dim view of Butt making the private conversation public at a time when results have been difficult, but Carrick was relaxed when the quote was put to him directly.

“I love the situation when actually you get a little bit of a struggle where you’ve got to find a way out of it,” Carrick added. “I actually really enjoy that because that’s part of what drives you to have success. If you’re not ready for that and you can’t do anything that’s difficult, then you’re never going to be great. So we’ve got to work our way through it and I’m enjoying it as we go.”

Carrick also pushed back on the idea that he personally needs results in the short term, while acknowledging the weight of expectation that comes with managing one of the world’s biggest clubs. He said he remains focused on what it will take to win games rather than the surrounding noise.

“There’s always negativity if you want to look for it or you want to feel it, but I don’t go looking for it,” he said. “I’m totally focused on what’s best for this place and this football club and what it’s going to take to win games.”

Carrick said he is looking forward to Sunday’s trip to Elland Road to face Leeds, describing it as a test he is genuinely relishing rather than one he is dreading.