Javier Hernandez has told his former Manchester United teammates who have been criticizing Michael Carrick that they are treading a "fine line" with their comments about the club's new head coach.
Carrick did a superb job after being appointed in January, steering United to third in the Premier League in the final 17 games of the season and securing the job on a permanent basis. However, the 45-year-old has faced criticism from people he used to share a dressing room with during his 12-year playing career at Old Trafford.
Former Teammates Among Critics
Roy Keane has continued to hold a grudge against Carrick and has been personal in some attacks, while Paul Scholes took to social media to criticize his former midfield partner after a defeat to Newcastle. Gary Neville also questioned Carrick's suitability for the job.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Hernandez was asked for his views on Carrick and said: "I love it, I love it." Ferdinand then made the point that some of their ex-teammates had been more critical.
Hernandez's Defense of Carrick
"I don't know why. I really don't know why. There's a fine line between criticising someone's job, because you have to, and then your own opinions," said Hernandez.
"I'm very surprised, mostly because you know Carrick more than I do. You spent so much time with him, not only as a teammate at the club but also with the national team. Carrick was always a man who never had a problem with anyone."
"The most civilised, calm person. So I don't understand. How are you going to criticise a manager who is giving you results?"
"He put your team back into the Champions League, so he deserves the consequence of that: stay, try to bring him players and give him the project. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But he took the team from low and put the team back into the Champions League."
Hernandez on His 2015 Exit
Hernandez also opened up on his 2015 exit from United, revealing he felt the club had changed after the departures of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill in 2013.
"It was very hard. Because if you gave me the chance to stay at United for most of my career, I would have taken it. The team that I played the most games for, even more than my hometown team in Mexico, is United," he said.
"I would have taken a bullet for that team. It's my team, Manchester United. But things weren't the same. It's not that I left the club that I was with; I left a different environment. It wasn't the same club."
"With the departure, obviously, of Sir Alex Ferguson, but also David Gill and all that family structure. When I say family, it doesn't mean that it was all nice, but there were values."
"I was very sad. Don't get me wrong. I would have retired at United and I would take a bullet for that team. But it wasn't the same team as the team that embraced me and gave me my first opportunity."
Head to the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel at 8am on Thursday 6th August to watch the full interview.
