Ferdinand Takes Aim at Keane Over Carrick Doubts: 'Why Rule Him Out?'

Rio Ferdinand has waded into the debate surrounding Michael Carrick's future at Manchester United, taking direct aim at Roy Keane's scepticism over the prospect of making the interim boss a permanent fixture.

Since Carrick stepped into the breach following Ruben Amorim's departure last month, United have been nothing short of sensational. A perfect four wins from four has lifted the club into fourth place and within touching distance of Champions League qualification—hardly the record of a manager unworthy of consideration.

Yet Keane has remained unmoved by Carrick's impressive audition. The former United captain has consistently suggested that bigger names are out there, better qualified to take on the long-term project at Old Trafford. It's a position that has left Ferdinand genuinely perplexed.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand laid out his reasoning with characteristic directness. "There's risks with anyone that goes in there," he explained. "No matter what Michael Carrick does, how well he does, and if he got the job on the back of a great ending to the season, there's still risk. There's an element of risk, but with every one of the names that get thrown into the hat, there's an element of risk with all of them."

The broader principle, Ferdinand suggested, is simply common sense. When someone gets an opportunity and seizes it with both hands—as Carrick manifestly has—dismissing them out of hand seems perverse. "I don't know in any walk of life, where someone comes in given the opportunity to do well, and put their first foot forward for a job opportunity, they smash it – and hopefully he carries on, at the moment he's smashing it, four wins out of four, and people are going 'no, he shouldn't get it though'," Ferdinand said.

"I don't understand that with Roy, I've got to be honest. I don't know how you can be so against it."

Keane, for his part, hasn't entirely closed the door. During an appearance on The Overlap, he offered Carrick a somewhat backhanded blessing while reaffirming his core position. When pressed by Gary Neville on his previous comments, Keane doubled down, though not without acknowledging the manager's accomplishments.

"I don't think it's the right decision, good luck with it," Keane said. "I'm sticking to my guns. I've said my piece. If he gets it in the summer then you go 'listen, good luck to him', but as a caretaker manager, it's a different animal to being manager of United trying to win league titles over the next two, three, four, five years, whatever it might be."

Keane's argument rests on the notion that temporary success—however genuine—doesn't necessarily translate to sustained excellence in the demanding environment of a full campaign. He's also suggested that Carrick's achievements have been aided by circumstance: the restoration of player morale, the fortuitous timing of his appointment, and the squad's inherent quality. "He's got the players back, it's all been sliding doors moments," Keane reflected. "Great for him, and he's took advantage of it."

Still, Keane conceded that Carrick's recent form opens doors elsewhere if Old Trafford doesn't materialise. "Even if he doesn't get the United job, these results, a bit like Ruud Van Nistelrooy, he can get another job, probably another Premiership manager," Keane acknowledged, before adding a note of caution: "But just cause you're doing well at United, it doesn't mean he'll do well at another club."

The final decision on United's permanent manager won't arrive until the summer, leaving Carrick with several months to further stake his claim—or, perhaps, to give Keane more ammunition for his case.