Michael Carrick has revealed he has not received any apology or message from Sir Jim Ratcliffe since the Manchester United co-owner's controversial remarks about immigration. Ratcliffe, the club's largest single shareholder, claimed in a Sky News interview on 11 February that the UK had been "colonised by immigrants", sparking widespread criticism. He issued a qualified apology the following day, expressing regret if his "choice of language has offended some people".
Speaking ahead of United's Premier League clash with Everton on Monday, Carrick confirmed he had not spoken to Ratcliffe since the comments. "Last time I saw Jim was Arsenal, and I'm fine with that," the interim manager said, referring to the away win on 25 January. He added that he does not require "constant communication from above" for his role, which focuses on creating the right environment within the squad.
When asked if Ratcliffe's remarks had undermined the club's ethos of unity, Carrick insisted the team remained cohesive. "We're definitely all pulling together," he said. "Being around here and in and around stadiums in the last few weeks, it's clear [we are] pulling together, pretty strong as a group."
Carrick, who replaced Ruben Amorim on 13 January, also highlighted his commitment to youth development. He recalled attending the under-18s' 3-1 win over Manchester City on 14 February and spoke of the importance of first-team connections with academy players, drawing on his own experience as a young player at West Ham. "It's that connection and our success, coming to this club, and the history and the traditions here, it's something I'm passionate about," he said.
