Michael Carrick has called for a swift resolution to Manchester City’s financial case.
City were found guilty of multiple breaches by an independent commission during the international break and have appealed against the verdict. Any sanctions are yet to be announced.
The Manchester United coach wants the authorities to bring the process to a conclusion as soon as possible, arguing that clubs need to know where they stand before they can move forward.
“What I will say, the sooner it gets sorted I think for everyone’s benefit is essential,” Carrick said. “Speed is essential. I think that’s pretty obvious for me to sit here and say that.
“It’s unprecedented, you know, a unique situation to be in this, at this level with such a huge impact in so many ways. So, we all need to know what’s going to happen, really.”
City deny wrongdoing and have lodged a formal appeal against the commission’s findings. It is still unclear when the appeal process will be completed, or what punishment can be inflicted on City, leaving huge uncertainty for previous Premier League seasons and even the current one.
Carrick also believes any retrospective Premier League medals awarded to United would not make up for the disappointment of losing those title races.
Carrick was part of the United sides that finished second behind City in 2012 and 2018, both seasons covered by the Premier League’s investigation into the club’s finances between 2009 and 2018.
Asked on Friday whether he would accept a medal if City were stripped of either title, Carrick declined to give a definitive answer while the case remains unresolved. He said the value of winning was about the achievement itself rather than the award that followed.
“It’s the moment that you strive for – to win and achieve in that moment,” he said. “The medal here or there, not getting blasé 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.”
