Carrick Vindicates Evans in Spurs Win as Former United Keeper Romero Retires to Eye Coaching Role
Set-Piece Success at Old Trafford
Manchester United’s interim manager Michael Carrick has singled out first-team coach Jonny Evans for special praise following a hard-fought victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The match swung firmly in United’s favour around the 29-minute mark when Spurs defender Cristian Romero was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Casemiro.
Almost immediately, Bryan Mbeumo capitalised on the numerical advantage, slotting home the opener following a cleverly worked corner routine involving Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo. It certainly took a while for the Red Devils to wrap up all three points, but they finally killed the game off in the 81st minute. A clinical finish from Fernandes secured a fourth consecutive win under Carrick’s temporary stewardship.
Keane’s Critique Answered
Speaking on the touchline just before the second half got underway, Carrick made a point of crediting Evans for his behind-the-scenes work on the training ground. This public endorsement felt particularly pointed, arriving hot on the heels of fierce criticism from club legend Roy Keane.
The outspoken Irishman recently took aim at the decision to parachute Evans into the first-team coaching setup, branding the appointment a classic case of “jobs for the boys” and a symptom of wider structural failings at Old Trafford. While Keane acknowledged the Northern Irishman’s competence as a player, he didn’t hold back on his lack of pedigree in the dugout.
“It’s not an issue with Jonny Evans, it’s an issue with the club and the decision-making, who they’re bringing in,” Keane argued. He pointed out that Evans had essentially transitioned straight from a summer player to a loans manager, bypassing the usual academy apprenticeship. “He comes in with Darren Fletcher and he has very little experience. Jonny gets a phone call saying: ‘Do you want to come back?’ And I bet Jonny’s thinking, ‘As a kit manager or working with the Under-12s?’ No, no, you’re working with the first team with Darren. Okay, great opportunity.”
An Old Trafford Alum Bows Out
While debates over coaching credentials continue to rage on the red side of Manchester, a former United favourite is officially hanging up his gloves and potentially eyeing a spot on the touchline himself. Sergio Romero, who spent several years at Old Trafford and lifted the Europa League with the club in 2017, has retired from professional football at the age of 39.
The veteran Argentine goalkeeper had been without a club before French outlet L’Équipe reported his retirement on Monday. His sprawling career began two decades ago at Racing Avellaneda in his homeland. A subsequent move to Europe yielded a Dutch league title with AZ Alkmaar in 2009, followed by spells at Sampdoria and a brief loan stint at Monaco in the 2013-2014 season, where he made just nine appearances. After a final European chapter in Venice, he returned to Argentina in 2022, turning out for Boca Juniors and, most recently, Argentinos Juniors last year. Across his career, he racked up 371 club appearances.
World Cup Pedigree
At the international level, Romero boasts an impressive 96 caps and an Olympic gold medal from the 2008 Beijing Games, having been handed his debut by the late Diego Maradona. He was an absolute cornerstone of Argentina’s run to the 2014 World Cup final under Lionel Messi’s captaincy. He notably starred in the semi-final shootout victory over the Netherlands, where Argentina won 4-2 on penalties following a tense goalless draw, before Germany ultimately broke their hearts with a 1-0 extra-time win in the final.
