Jamie Carragher apologized to Villa Astonclub owners and fans for using ‘clumsy and wrong’ language in linking manager Unai Emery to future Manchester United head coach.
On Friday, Villa announced it would take legal action against the former England defender over what it called “unacceptable insults”.
The club’s statement, signed by president Nassef Sawiris, referred to comments Carragher made on the Stick to Football podcast, when he suggested Emery would want to manage a “giant” club.
He also asked the club’s supporters to keep quiet, adding: “Aston Villa will never be Manchester United.”
Posting on social media on Saturday, Carragher said his comments were intended to be “tongue-in-cheek”.
“I would like to apologize to Aston Villa, the owners and their fans,” the expert wrote.
“My language this week was clumsy and wrong.
“I can assure Villa fans that it was ironic, but I can understand that it is not, so I apologise.”
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick’s position hangs in the balance after a dismal start to the season.
Referring to former Paris St-Germain and Arsenal boss Emery, Carragher said on Stick to Football: “He would surely want this opportunity to manage a giant again.
“There is a channel in football, whether you like it or not.
“So Real Madrid will take the best player from Manchester United, they did it with (Cristiano) Ronaldo. And there will be teams below Aston Villa, and they will take their players or their manager, so shut up (expletive) Aston Villa fans. Aston Villa will never be Manchester United.”
After his comments drew criticism from Villa fans, Carragher responded on social media, saying that telling them to shut up had been “a joke” and that he had been praising Emery and the club “for years”.
He reiterated on the Overlap Daily podcast that his message to Villa fans was intended as “a joke”, adding: “I just think Unai Emery is the best manager in the league and if you’re Man Utd you ask yourself: what’s the best we can get?”
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