Piers Morgan calls Michael Carrick ‘clueless’ as he rips into Man Utd caretaker

Press conference with Manchester United's caretaker manager Michael Carrick ahead of his side's Premier League match against Chelsea

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Piers Morgan has branded Michael Carrick as “even more clueless” than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The scathing assessment of Manchester United’s interim manager comes following his decision to drop Cristiano Ronaldo for the Red Devils’ huge Premier League clash with Chelsea.

First-team coach Carrick was placed in temporary charge of the club after Solskjaer was given his marching orders last weekend following a run of one win in seven Premier League outings.

After overcoming Villarreal in the Champions League, in what was his first match in the United hot seat, Carrick rung the changes once again, controversially dropping star striker Ronaldo for the match at Stamford Bridge.

The decision stunned fans and pundits alike, but perhaps none more so than outspoken TV personality and well-known Ronaldo advocate Piers Morgan.

Taking to Twitter to launch a scathing attack on Carrick following the surprise team selection, Morgan posted: “BREAKING: Carrick’s even more clueless than Solskjaer.”

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On his controversial call to leave out the United legend, Carrick explained: “A few tweaks from the other night to freshen things up and Cristiano is the stand-out name but there’s a game plan and different ideas.

“I’ve had a good chat with him and he was great so we’ve decided to go like that today so really looking forward to the game.

“It’s a decision to just pick a team to be honest, no need for more drama than that.

“All the boys have been terrific – Cristiano included – supporting the boys and ready to come on if and when he’s needed and hopefully to win the game like he did in midweek.

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“We’ve come with a plan and we’re happy with the team we’ve selected. We’ve come here to win the game like we do every game.”

However, it appears Morgan wasn’t the only one taken aback by Carrick’s dramatic decision to omit Ronaldo, with Sky Sports pundit and former Red Devil Roy Keane also questioning the call.

“I’m surprised. Ronaldo is one of the great players but the manager there said he has a plan that he took great. Ronaldo has come back to play in these games.

“He’s a big player for the big occasions. His stats against Chelsea aren’t great but I’m surprised to see him being left out.”

Despite netting 10 goals in 14 appearances since making a sensational return to Old Trafford in the summer, with his latest strike against Villarreal in midweek the 799th of his illustrious career, Ronaldo has notoriously struggled to find the net against Chelsea.

In 15 encounters with the Blues, the Portuguese forward has only struck once – his iconic header in the 2008 Champions League final between the Premier League pair, which United won on penalties following a 1-1 stalemate.

Despite his poor personal record against Chelsea, the fact that Ronaldo is being benched for only the fourth time in the league during the past nine seasons emphasises the magnitude of Carrick’s call to drop him.

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