Michael Carrick found himself in a heated exchange with journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft following Manchester United's disappointing 2-0 loss to Hull City. The former player took issue with the insinuation that his team showed a lack of character and desire during the first half.
Fjortoft posed the question to Carrick, asking if he agreed that United's players were lacking in character and passion before the break:
Come on. That’s ridiculous.
When pressed to explain his stance, Carrick continued:
You’ve played football yourself and understand this. To say that is absurd. Just because a team loses, it doesn’t mean the players don’t care.
Fjortoft countered, suggesting that the Hull players appeared to be more fired up, but Carrick remained adamant:
No. Both goals came from set pieces. Beyond that, we had our moments. That’s what defined the game.
I don’t think it was about character or anything like that. They simply made better use of their chances.
Following the interview, Fjortoft received backlash on social media for his questions. However, the former Norway international insisted that there was no animosity with Carrick:
Carrick, Manchester United, and everyone felt that the interview was good. We also had a normal chat afterwards.
Both Carrick and the club were pleased with the conversation. I’ve known Michael for many years.
