Paul Scholes says an Instagram story post about Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick was "in no way intended to be offensive" towards his former team-mate.

Following United's 2-1 Premier League defeat by Newcastle United last Wednesday - their first loss under Carrick - Scholes wrote: "Michael has definitely got something special about him...cos Utd have been [expletive] last four games."

Scholes, who played alongside Carrick in United's midfield for seven years, was criticised for his comments, with former team-mate Patrice Evra saying, "I hope he was hacked".

The 51-year-old explained his post on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast on Monday alongside former Reds players Wes Brown and Nicky Butt, saying he has spoken to Carrick about the issue.

"It was in no way intended to be offensive towards Michael," the former England international said.

"Michael is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in football. He'd be the last person that I would want to offend.

"I messaged Michael anyway. I went straight to Michael and said, 'Look, I was never intending to upset you. And I don't think I needed to say that anyway, and he told me himself he wasn't upset by it."

Carrick took over after the sacking of Ruben Amorim and was unbeaten in his first seven games, but United's most recent performances have not matched those that beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham at the start of his time at the helm.

They are currently third in the league and in a good position to qualify for the Champions League.

"I think people have just taken it differently from what was meant," Scholes added.

"The only thing I was saying was that I don't think they played that well the last four games, and he's still managing to get results.

"We had the greatest manager in the world, and he always said, sometimes you need a bit of luck. So with sending-offs and different things that happen through games, sometimes you do need a bit of luck, that's all I was saying."

Brown added, "I can see it both ways. When Scholesy explained it to me, it completely made sense. But how I read it was as if he's having a go at him."

Scholes replied: "What Wes said, and I hadn't heard that before, was that I was saying he's just a lucky manager. I wasn't saying that, I was saying he's a very talented manager because he's getting results with a team that, for the last four games since the West Ham game, I didn't think were playing very well, that's all."

Earlier this year, United defender Lisandro Martinez hit back at comments from Butt and Scholes.