Carrick says Manchester City verdict has 'thrown up a lot of questions' and affected him personally

Michael Carrick has said Manchester City’s guilty verdict on Premier League financial rule-breaking charges has “thrown up a lot of questions” and affected him personally, speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of Manchester United’s match against Tottenham.

City were found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules across a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. The independent commission released its findings last week in what Carrick described as an “unprecedented” situation. City have protested their innocence and lodged an appeal, with sanctions yet to be determined.

“It’s thrown up a lot of questions, some have had answers, some haven’t,” Carrick said. “As it’s still ongoing, and we don’t know 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.”

Carrick was a key member of the Manchester United side that finished as Premier League runners-up to City on two occasions during the period covered by the charges. Most notably, United were pipped to the title in 2011/12 when Sergio Agüero’s famous last-minute goal handed City the championship on goal difference. Carrick also retired from football at the end of the 2017/18 season, the final year covered by the charges, when United again finished second behind their city rivals.

The United head coach was clear that speed of resolution was now the priority for everyone involved in the game. “The sooner it gets sorted I think for everyone’s benefit is essential,” he said. “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.”

When asked whether he believed trophies should be reallocated and how he would feel about receiving a medal retrospectively, Carrick declined to be drawn while the appeal remains live. “I think at the moment, as it’s still not finalised, I think I’ll hold that one until later on,” he said. “Regardless of anything, a medal anyway, in any sport in history — it’s the moment that you strive for to win and achieve in that moment.”

The case remains ongoing, with no timeline confirmed for when sanctions or a final resolution will be reached.