Lineker and Shearer Unite in Calling Scholes-Carrick Spat 'Weird'
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have delivered a unified verdict, describing the ongoing feud between Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick as 'weird' and 'odd'. This reaction comes after Scholes publicly criticised Carrick, the interim head coach of Manchester United, following the team's 2-1 loss to Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Scholes' Controversial Instagram Post Sparks Debate
In a now-deleted Instagram story, Paul Scholes, the former Manchester United midfielder, made pointed remarks about Michael Carrick. Scholes wrote, 'Michael has definitely got something special about him... cos United have been c**p last four games... night [blowing kiss emoji]. Tonali [red love heart emoji].' This message ignited significant discussion on social media, with fans and pundits divided over Scholes' decision to blame Carrick for the team's recent performances.
Podcast Hosts Weigh In on the Rivalry
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, co-host Gary Lineker expressed his surprise at the situation. 'You see, there’s a little bit of beef between Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick? He’s digging him out, isn’t he? He’s not exactly being very supportive of his old team-mate, is he?' he remarked. Alan Shearer, the former Newcastle United forward, concurred, stating, 'It's a strange, it's weird isn't it?' Lineker further speculated that there might be underlying history between the two, adding, 'It's an odd one. It's weird, isn't it? Maybe there’s a bit of history there. Who knows?'
Micah Richards Offers a Balanced Perspective
Micah Richards, the former Manchester City and England right-back, provided a more measured response during the podcast. He questioned the authenticity of the feud, saying, 'I need a fact checker on that though, I don't believe it's true. Everyone is saying it's true, it has got on all the headlines from social media.' Richards also highlighted Scholes' character, noting, 'But if he did say that, Scholesy (Paul Scholes) when you see him, he is one of the nicest guys ever and I don't think he has got any aspirations to be a coach. As an ex-teammate, I thought they had love for each-other but it was strange to say the least.'
Historical Context of the Scholes-Carrick Dynamic
This recent incident is not the first time Paul Scholes has expressed doubts about Michael Carrick. In November 2021, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, Scholes branded Carrick, along with Mike Phelan and Kieran McKenna, as 'disloyal' for remaining at the club. At the time, Scholes stated, 'I feel with Ole, he put a lot of trust into Michael, Kieran (McKenna) and Mike Phelan, which is why they shouldn't be at the club now. They're all good friends and they're good people but if I was them I'd feel guilty still working at the club after Ole put so much trust in them.'
When Carrick was appointed interim manager following Solskjaer's dismissal, he addressed Scholes' comments, saying, 'It's been an emotional few days. The first person I spoke to after Ed (Woodward) offered me the role was Ole. I thought that was the right thing to do.' Carrick later left United for a stint at Middlesbrough before being re-hired in January 2026 after Ruben Amorim was dismissed.
Carrick's Impressive Return to Manchester United
Since his return to Old Trafford, Michael Carrick has achieved notable success, winning six and drawing one of his first eight matches. This has helped Manchester United climb to third place in the Premier League, level on points with Aston Villa. The team's next challenge is a crucial match against Villa on Sunday, March 15, which could further solidify their position in the top four.
The ongoing debate between Scholes and Carrick highlights the intense scrutiny and high stakes involved in football management, especially at a club of Manchester United's stature. As pundits like Lineker and Shearer continue to analyse the situation, it remains a topic of fascination for fans and analysts alike.
