He Told Me I Wasn't Made for Coaching / Nicky Butt's Shocking Revelations About Keane!

Nicky Butt spoke about his private conversations with the Manchester United head coach at a time when he has become the second most likely to be sacked.

According to "Sports Three", former Manchester United star Nicky Butt has made a strange claim that Michael Carrick told him before accepting the leadership of the team at Old Trafford that it is not my job to be the head coach.

45-year-old Carrick returned to the club in January after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, where he had earned a legendary status during his playing career. Despite the strong end of the last season in which Carrick managed to lead Manchester United to the third place, he is under severe pressure this time after getting only 6 points from 6 matches.

His team's difficult start has been such that Carrick is now the second most likely to be fired in the Premier League, behind Alvaro Arbeloa, at odds of 2-1.

The former Red Devils midfielder was heavily criticized after Manchester United's 1-1 draw with 10-man Tottenham at the weekend, with Butt revealing some of their private conversations about his managerial ambitions.

"I was with Michael before he took over at Manchester United and I spoke to him about coaching," Butt said on the Good, Bad and Football podcast. He said no, this job is not made for me, this job is beyond my ability and it involves all my mind, I am only willing to do this for a big job and that big job is Manchester United.

Butt added: "So when the club came to him, he naturally went to accept this responsibility. "I think when he walks through that door, you put last year aside because, as Paul Scholes said, that year is completely different to this year, he's walking into a club that's different to the one he knew and was at."

"But these guys don't give a shit about Manchester United," Butt said. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would not reject this offer. Roy Keane might never turn down such an offer. "When that club calls you and you have been there, it is impossible to refuse."

These statements by Butt, who was not Carrick's teammate at Old Trafford, but met him during his coaching career, are very damaging for the current Manchester United manager.

Just one win from their opening six Premier League games marks Manchester United's worst start to a season in 40 years, but Carrick appeared in fighting spirit ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.

"I like this part of the job when sometimes things don't go your way, you find out who is really in the team and who wants to be around long term," Carrick said.

"You see who really cares about the shirt and who the shirt is really worth," Carrick continued. The fans are there and they want success with all their heart and we have to give them something. I believe you have to embrace challenges to get where you want to be. We are in the midst of exactly these challenges right now, but I have full faith that we will overcome this situation."

"It depends how you define pressure," Carrick said when asked about being under pressure. Our own expectations are raised. We know what we are capable of as a team and what we expect from ourselves as a group and a football club. This pressure comes from within us. I never look outside to see what the work picture should look like. I know very well what approach to take. I have tasted the ups and downs and I don't feel any pressure from this direction."

After the match against Atletico Madrid, Manchester United will face Leeds, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Aston Villa in the Premier League before the international break in November, and will face Como and Roma in European competition.