Jamie Carragher apologises to Villa, owners and fans for “clumsy” language

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has apologised to Aston Villa, its owners and fans for what he called “clumsy and wrong” language in linking manager Unai Emery with the Manchester United job.

Villa said on Friday they would begin legal action against the former Liverpool defender over what they called “unacceptable insults”, according to the BBC. The statement was signed by chairman Nassef Sawiris.

On the Stick to Football podcast, Carragher suggested Emery would want to manage a “giant” club again. He also told Villa fans to shut up, adding: “Aston Villa will never be Manchester United.”

Posting on social media on Saturday, Carragher said the remarks were meant to be “tongue in cheek”.

“I’d like to apologise to Aston Villa, the owners and their fans,” he wrote. “My language this week was clumsy and wrong. I can assure Villa fans it was tongue in cheek but I can understand it’s not come across that way, so apologies.”

United manager Michael Carrick’s position is reportedly in the balance after a poor start to the season.