In a stunning revelation that peels back the curtain on the relationship between top-flight clubs and broadcasters, Jamie Carragher has admitted that his famous interview with Erik ten Hag in 2022 was “staged” by Manchester United.
The interview in question, which was broadcast on Sky Sports ahead of a crucial match against Liverpool in August 2022, is best remembered for the harsh criticism the Dutchman received from pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.
At the time, Ten Hag made a disastrous start to his tenure, losing their opening two games to Brighton and Brentford, with a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Brentford.
Viewers believed they were watching the broadcaster hold a failing manager to account, but Carragher has now revealed that the segment was actually a calculated move orchestrated by the club themselves.
Jamie Carragher reveals the truth about famous Erik ten Hag interview
This confession was made during an exchange regarding X. Carragher, who has recently faced accusations of bias for criticizing current Liverpool manager Arn Slott, was challenged by fans over Sky Sports’ access to the manager.
In a moment of candid transparency, the former Liverpool defender set the record straight by quoting a fan and made a bombshell about the reality of football media.
“This interview was set up by Man Utd’s press office, not Sky Sports!! ETH’s first two games have been terrible so the idea was to help him out by telling us about football. We asked tough questions and we asked tough questions so it didn’t look like it was what it was!!”
Mr Carragher’s revelations completely reshaped the narrative of that broadcast. Far from being a surprise attack by Sky Sports taking advantage of United’s predicament, the sit-in was a lifeline thrown by Old Trafford’s communications team.
The goal was for Ten Hag to demonstrate its tactical acumen and regain public trust.
How a “staged” interview led to Ten Hag’s turnaround
At the time, this strategy seemed to work.
The “tough” questions gave the impression of rigorous scrutiny, satisfying angry fans demanding answers, while also giving Ten Hag a platform to clearly communicate his vision without the chaotic environment of a standard post-match press conference.
| season | league results | domestic cup | european competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Premier League 3rd place | – EFL Cup: winner – FA Cup:runner-up | UEFA Europa League: Quarterfinals |
| 2023-24 | Premier League 8th place | – FA Cup: winner – EFL Cup: Eliminated (4 rounds) | UEFA Champions League: Exit from group stage |
| 2024-2025 (until October 2025) | Premier League 15th place | – FA Cup: Advance to the 5th round – EFL Cup: Quarterfinals | UEFA Europa League:runner-up |
After the interview, United defeated Liverpool 2–1, a result that started Ten Haag’s first season and ultimately led to a third-place finish and the Carabao Cup trophy.
