Carrick says Man City guilty verdict has affected him 'personally' and demands swift resolution

Michael Carrick has admitted Manchester City’s guilty verdict on Premier League financial charges has affected him “personally” and called for the situation to be resolved “as soon as possible”, speaking ahead of United’s match against Tottenham.

On 30 September, the Premier League confirmed City had been found guilty on all charges relating to breaches of its financial regulations between 2009/10 and 2017/18. The independent commission found that City had artificially inflated revenue by more than £900 million through so-called ‘sham’ sponsorship deals. City strongly denied any wrongdoing and lodged an appeal on 1 October, insisting they are “innocent of the accusations” and possess “a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to support their position.

Carrick, speaking at his pre-match press conference following the international break, was candid about the verdict’s personal resonance — a reflection of his years as a player at City’s rivals. “It’s thrown up a lot of questions,” he said. “It’s ongoing, and there’s only so much I can say. I have my own questions about it because it has affected me personally. We’ll have to see how it goes. The sooner it gets sorted for everyone, the better.”

The United head coach was unambiguous about the need for pace in resolving the matter. “Speed is essential — that’s obvious for me to sit here and say that. There are so many angles, but speed is essential for everybody to be clear, to deal with it, and move on. It’s unprecedented to be in this situation at this level. We all need to know what is going to happen.”

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who spent three years as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium between 2016 and 2019, took a more measured line. “I fully understand the question but I think it’s really important that we respect the process, the timelines and it’s still an ongoing process that’s not resolved as it’s been appealed,” the Spaniard said. Arteta won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups during his time at City before returning to Arsenal in December 2019.

When asked whether the off-field turmoil might galvanise City, Arteta was noncommittal. “I don’t know — it’s something that’s not in our hands. We’re preparing to play Leeds and be in the best condition and that’s what we’ll do.”

City’s appeal means the case remains unresolved, with no timeline yet confirmed for a final outcome.