Gary Lineker was as surprised as Manchester United supporters were when he learned of Paul Scholes’ bizarre dig towards Michael Carrick.
When Carrick sustained his first defeat as Red Devils manager away to Newcastle United last week, Scholes took to Instagram at full-time to react, writing on Instagram: “Michael has definitely got something special about him… because Utd have been crap [the] last four games… Night!”
💬 Paul Scholes says United have been ‘crap’ in the last four games…
As supportive as ever from the former Red. 😅 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/8WyQdQDk4q
— Stretty News (@StrettyNews) March 4, 2026
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Why Scholes’ statement was unwarranted
He subsequently deleted the post, presumably due to the widespread backlash he was receiving from fans.
Even if he had felt as though the side’s performance levels had faltered in recent weeks, having one of your own former players, particularly one as highly regarded as Scholes, issuing such a critical verdict, doesn’t benefit anyone.
Not to mention his seemingly direct jab at his former teammate Carrick, who can hold his head at the job he’s done since taking the reins in the aftermath of Ruben Amorim’s abrupt sacking in January.
To have even overseen seven games without sustaining a loss is a stellar feat in itself, but the fact that he has the side in such good standing to secure Champions League football means he’s doing exactly what INEOS asked of him when appointing him.
What Lineker had to say about Scholes’ Carrick dig
When analysing United’s clash with the Magpies on The Rest Is Football in the subsequent days, Lineker said of the situation: “He (Scholes) is digging him (Carrick) out, isn’t he? He’s not exactly being very supportive of his old teammate, is he?
“You see, there’s a little bit of beef between Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick? It’s an odd one.
“It’s weird, isn’t it? Maybe there’s a bit of history there. Who knows?”
Nonetheless, if there is indeed ‘beef’ like Lineker suggests, it appears to be one-sided, as Carrick has conducted himself superbly and with the utmost professionalism while navigating one of the most scrutinised job roles in world football.
hey scholsy how about shutting your bloody mouth , if you cant encourage keep your opinions to yourself you are a disgrace as a pundit you failed as a manager at Oldham your predictions are as bad as your tackling, Carrick is doing a damn good job with the players at his disposal, and he doesn’t need a clown like you on his back, you ex players should give punditry a big mis because your effing useless, Keane as a problem with Carrick’s wife maybe Keane threatened to kick your fat arse if you didn’t have a go at Carrick
Even Gary Neville is as bad and failed as a manager and that clown Paul Ince once made a claim he could manage United better but failed at all the clubs he managed
Scholes who give a supportive comments as you should know who you are when you are as a manager before and player.Seem that he is against Carrick success at MU. You can give negative comments but all depend on the situation. Give some positive comments sometimes.
Yeah I fully agree with the comments, and while your at it tell that prick dog chops Neville to F** right off and get a face lift.
Agree with David Clarkson that Paul Scholes keeps his gap shut. If you have to comment about Michael Carrick, praise him as he inherited a squad that both Erik Ten Hag and Ruben Amorim left him.
He has gone about charting such a remarkable run of 6 wins, with only one draw and one loss.
Losing to Newcastle United by the odd goal is NO SHAME, despite one man advantage!
Who knows if Manchester United beats Aston Villa next on March 15 at Old Trafford and maybe with a high score, his position will become strong to be considered for the Permanent Manager.
AT ANY RATE, let’s wait for the season to end and see where Manchester United finish, the team is already sitting in 3rd position, so long they don’t suddenly collapse, the 3rd position will be enough to qualify for Champions League!!!!!
Scholes you absolute weirdo, why?????
Just ignore the dude. It is very clear that Scholes, Neville and Carragher are lonely, having a bite at anyone and anything just to stay relevant. The brave people like Carrick are taking on seemingly insurmountable challenges that these clowns are hiding from in the comfort of television studios and podcasts. Just shut them out! Period!
I don’t agree with what Scholes has done putting out a post like that, but he also isn’t wrong in what he is saying. I am worried that these owners and especially Wilcox will be looking at the results only and thinking “Yeah, We can give him the job, keep these players, add a couple and we’ll be fine” when every true United fan knows this isn’t the case. Carrick has done amazing to get the results he has out of this squad but it’s obvious that the underlying problems still exist. These players can switch off so quickly. Digging at Carrick after one defeat was lazy and cruel, but don’t be fooled everything is far from rosy in the Garden of United.
They are jealous and envious of Carrick. They never saw him managing man.utd, it is a shocker for them. So, they want him to fail at all cost because they would never get to that level of being man.utd manager.
It is a shame.
Scholes was a brilliant player,in fact one of the best ever,however he is now ruining his reputation with the stupid remarks that he keeps making.As a pundit he is poor and as a manger he was rubbish at Oldham.His latest remarks about Carrick smack of jealousy.
He scholes is just a piece of shit. He would have been red carded every game in modern football. Without understanding how football has evolved over the years, they still think its how and who they played and what they were… They can win a league in talking not playing….. Its all jelousy to see and digest ,,that one of their own showing some positive signs of good football,,,,which they never got an opportunity or had the calibre to perform in such big clubs….as a manager.