In Manchester, where the memory of Sergio Agüero’s last-day strike in 2012 still sits sharply in the city’s football history, Michael Carrick has reflected on the unresolved financial case surrounding Manchester City and the uncertainty it has created across the game.
The Manchester United coach said the proceedings have affected him personally and left him with questions of his own. With the case still ongoing, Carrick stressed that there are limits to what can be discussed, but urged for a conclusion to be reached soon.
“It has raised plenty of questions, including for me,” he said. “The matter is still live, so there is only so much I can say. But the sooner it is concluded, the better it will be for everyone. We all need to know what is going to happen.”
The discussion inevitably returned to the 2011-12 Premier League campaign, when City took the title from United in extraordinary fashion on the final day. Agüero’s decisive goal secured the championship for City, leaving United’s players and supporters with the immediate pain of seeing the prize slip away.
Asked whether a later ruling could result in United being awarded that title, Carrick said any retrospective outcome would not alter the experience of that afternoon. “It does not change how you felt at the time. You cannot get that back,” he said.
He did not want to speculate on any potential redistribution of honours should City face sanctions. For Carrick, the question can wait until the process has produced a final decision. “At this point it has not been settled, so I would rather leave that for later,” he added. “The feeling of winning it then is what you play for. A medal handed out afterwards cannot recreate that feeling.”
