Roy Keane branded 'an embarrassment' as Man Utd fans turn on club icon following latest Michael Carrick rant

United now sit third in the standings, three points ahead of Villa, with just eight matches left to play.

The fallen giants are yet to decide whether Carrick should get the job permanently or not, with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi and Emery all believed to be under consideration.

Speaking after the victory over Villa, however, Keane insisted the 44-year-old wasn't the right man for the job.

The Sky Sports pundit said: "I would've thought so, yeah [on Manchester United considering giving Michael Carrick the permanent job] but I wouldn't.

"I think there's better options out there. I think the games where he's come in and in terms of winning football matches, he's done a very good job. He's obviously simplified things but there's been no jeopardy in those games.

"They've had three weeks to prepare for the matches. It's been good timing for him to go in there and he's done a very good job.

"I take my hat off to him and if he does get the job in the summer I'll say 'listen, good luck to you,' but I think there are far better options out there for the next manager of Manchester United.

"If Carrick had been mentioned three months ago to be the next Manchester United manager you'd have been locked up.

"Everyone would've said he's not even in the reckoning but due to timing, he's got an opportunity and is doing a very good job.

"I think there's better options out there, simple as that but he's done a very good job.

"Everyone else can get giddy about Man United being third in the league, I don't. I'm not one of them." pic.twitter.com/vLhMGZLTtB

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 15, 2026

"Manchester United are certain to qualify for the Champions League now but in making decisions [on the next manager] they will have to go and interview people and see what's out there."

Keane has often been critical of Carrick's credentials ever since his appointment just two months ago.

And many United fans have now blasted the Irishman, accusing him of allowing a personal feud to influence his opinion.

"Keane is quickly turning into an embarrassment for Man Utd. His bitterness towards carrick is cringeworthy," said one user.

A second fumed: "United fans, we have to rule out Roy Keane speaking for us. He doesn't like the club. He is still bitter what happened to him and the way he left the club. That's okay but we should no longer take his opinion seriously and he does not speak for or represents United."

Another wrote: "The ex-United players are always negative I don't understand why."

A fourth stated: "Getting boring now Keano. Utd finished 15th last season on 54 points. This season we are 3rd on 54 points with another 24 points to play for. It’s progress and all Utd fans have a right to happy with that."

And a fifth hit out by saying: "Same guy who was deadly quiet when Amorim was 8th in December and finished 15th. Pretty clear now that these ex players don’t want Man United to be successful again otherwise it means their successes won’t be respected."

Meanwhile, Keane elaborated during the segment and stuck to his guns, insisting that managers with more experience should be the frontrunners for the post.

"Most players do like a caretaker manager. It's different when he comes in and has to make a decision about contracts, pre-season and medical staff, transfers and recruitment," he said.

"His job in the last few months has been to win football matches. I know that's a manager's job anywhere but he's not had any distractions even as a manager. Of course he's done it and I give him credit for that but if he's given the job then there's different responsibilities for him.

"I think to manage Manchester United, you need someone a lot more experienced in terms of winning trophies, competing in Europe and he hasn't got that. He might have that in a few years, and he might be in the mix then, but the fact he's winning football matches at the moment of course gives him a great chance.

"All this chat that everyone loves him, I'm not so sure that was the case when they couldn't beat Newcastle with 10 men. He beat Aston Villa today - Aston Villa were absolutely shocking. The more I look at Aston Villa, the more I think they'll be missing out on Europe especially considering how bad they've been today.

"So the timing is good for United. For today's game Villa are on the back of a European game and United, because they were so bad at the start of the season, have no distractions.

"And remember this is the same group of players that finished 15th. So everyone else can get giddy about Man United being third in the league but I don't. I'm not one of them. I don't get all excited for stuff like that.

"I get excited when teams are winning trophies and competing week in, week out. So, I'm not one to get too giddy."