Michael Carrick calls for swift conclusion to Manchester City financial case

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick says Manchester City’s guilty verdict in the Premier League financial rules case has affected him personally and believes the club’s appeal must be resolved as soon as possible.

City are challenging findings that they breached financial regulations over a nine-season period between 2009 and 2018. The potential consequences, if the verdicts are upheld, could include a points deduction or other significant sporting sanctions.

Carrick was part of the Manchester United teams that finished second behind City in 2011/12 and 2017/18, making the case particularly relevant to the former England midfielder.

The 2012 title race remains especially significant for United supporters. Sergio Aguero’s stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of that season secured the championship for City and denied United another Premier League title.

“I’ve got my own questions about it. It’s affected me personally in different ways over a period of time,” Carrick said.

“It’s unprecedented, you know, a unique situation to be in, at this level with such a huge impact in so many ways. So, we all need to know what’s going to happen, really. I think that’s pretty clear.”

Carrick said bringing the appeal to a conclusion quickly would be in the best interests of everyone involved.

“As the case is going now, I don’t know where that stands and how it’s going to end up. So we’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.

“What I will say, the sooner it gets sorted, I think for everyone’s benefit, is essential.”

Manchester United could potentially benefit if the outcome results in changes to City’s previous title successes. However, Carrick said a championship awarded retrospectively would not reproduce the experience of winning it on the pitch.

“In sport, certainly in football, the strive to win and the emotion, the feeling about winning is a lot of it is in the moment,” he said.

“Once that’s done, there’s no getting that back in any direction. That’s the feeling we all crave is coming out on top.”

He added: “The medal here or there, not getting blase about it, but that doesn’t bring the feeling of when you initially win or you don’t win. That’s essentially what we’re all in it for.”

Carrick’s immediate focus is on improving United’s league form. His side have won only one of their opening five matches and are 12th in the table before Saturday’s meeting with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

Tottenham are bottom of the standings, but Carrick warned that their position did not fully reflect their performances. The United boss previously played for Spurs and believes they have produced better displays than their results suggest.

“Just another game. Points-wise, I think Tottenham have played a lot better than it shows at times,” he said.