Jamie Carragher issues statement after Aston Villa threaten legal action | Football

Jamie Carragher has issued an apology for his ‘clumsy language’ that prompted Aston Villa to threaten legal action against the Liverpool legend.

The former defender this week suggested Villa boss Unai Emery would be interested in taking the reins at Manchester United should Michael Carrick depart Old Trafford.

Carragher referred to ‘the chain in football’, explaining players and managers will consider moving onto bigger challenges.

‘There is a chain in football, whether you like it or not,’ Carragher told Stick to Football.’

‘So Real Madrid will take Manchester United’s best player, they did it with [Cristiano] Ronaldo. And there will be teams below Aston Villa, and they’ll take their players or manager, so shut the f**k up Aston Villa fans. Aston Villa will never be Manchester United.’

On Friday evening Villa released a statement on social media, signed by chairman Nassef Sawiris, accusing Carragher of insulting the club and its supporters, warning they will ‘initiate legal action.’

Carragher has now issued his own statement, insisting his comments were’tongue in cheek.’

‘I’d like to apologise to Aston Villa, the owners and their fans,’ Carragher wrote on X.

‘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.

‘Good luck today UTV! [up the Villa].’

More to follow

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