Michael Carrick makes Roy Keane look silly as Man Utd sweep Tottenham aside | Football | Sport

Speaking pitch-side before the start of the second half, Carrick lauded United coach and former Reds defender Evans for his contributions during training. He stated: “Jonny [Evans] had his eye on set plays so it’s great when things come off. Delighted with that.”

Regarding their approach to playing against 10 men, he added: “Mentally we’ve got to treat it the exact same, keep the intensity, keep the quality. I think you’ve just got to manage the game and be sensible in the game.”

Carrick’s praise of Evans comes in the wake of criticism from Roy Keane. The Irishman criticised United’s decision to appoint Evans to the club’s first-team coaching staff.

Despite recognising Evans as a talented player, Keane dismissed the appointment as “jobs for the boys” and indicative of poor decision-making at Old Trafford.

Speaking on Sky Sports in January ahead of the 2-0 victory in the Manchester derby, he remarked: “Jonny Evans rocks up, they’ve signed him twice.

“It’s not an issue with Jonny Evans, it’s an issue with the club and the decision-making, who they’re bringing in. Jonny Evans left Man United four or five weeks ago.

“He left as a summer player and started as a loans manager. He wasn’t there for 10 years doing it. A few months. My issue with Jonny is he’s got no coaching.

“It’s not as if he worked in the academy for a few years. He comes in with Darren Fletcher and he has very little experience but he’s worked at academy level. 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.

“You have two games, doesn’t go too well. That’s probably the end of that. No, no. Another manager comes in, he wants you to stay on as well.”

United narrowed the gap on second-placed Manchester City to just three points after securing victory against Tottenham. City’s fixture against Liverpool isn’t scheduled until Sunday.