"If I tell you for example that I consider one of the best jobs of my career [was] to finish second with Manchester United in the Premier League, you say: 'This guy is insane - he won 25 titles ...' But I keep saying this because people don't know what is going on behind the scenes".
The Portuguese coach lost long-term right-hand man and close confidant Rui Faria at the back end of his second season at the helm, which led to Carrick and youth coach Kieran McKenna being given key roles in United's first-team setup. "So I think to just creep under that radar suits us, because we know we have still got an bad lot of work to do".
The Belgium midfielder has made just two substitute appearances for United since Solskjaer replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho. "Sometimes we, on this side of the camera, analyse things with a different perspective".
Mourinho went public with his unhappiness with the club's transfer dealings last summer, but his reference to "behind the scenes" may apply to United's failure to sign Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic at the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
Mourinho, though, has no intentions of letting United be his final job.
However, Pompeo later admitted in a Q&A session with U.S. embassy staff in Doha that no progress was made on resolving the issue. Khashoggi was killed on October 2 in a case which stunned the world and threatened a serious rift between Riyadh and Washington.
Despite his sacking by United, Mourinho insisted on BeIN SPORTS that he will return to management.
"I can't really comment on everything he says and I'm enjoying working with these boys and that's all I can say", he said.
"If you speak about Guardiola, about [Carlo] Ancelotti - about the ones where obviously I belong - that have a career of victories for long, long periods. With the injuries to Felli as well and the squad we have, I'm not sure we're going to see any movement". And although he is prepared to fight for his place at United, Solskjaer's determination to impose a fast, counter-attacking style on the team has limited his opportunities to play.
The 30-year-old was sidelined when Solskjaer took over but played his way back to fitness, playing 27 minutes in the 2-0 win at Newcastle at the start of the month. "It is very easy to be behind a certain idea of certain football without results". Where are the young ones with a real impact in terms of results? They help me, they are helping me a lot.