Carra Bites Back At Nani

Jamie Carragher has hit back at Nani, claiming his much-maligned tackle was the first he has had to hold his hands up for in his career.

The Liverpool vice captain has come under fierce criticism by the Manchester United camp for his challenge on the Portuguese winger during the Reds' 3-1 victory at Anfield.

Nani was left with a severe gash on his leg from the studs of a robust Carragher challenge and claimed the tackle did not belong in the sport.

But the Liverpool stalwart insists he has never been called up before for a mis-timed tackle of this nature.

"I apologized for it and said it was a poor tackle so I was pleased to see he was back in training six days later," Carragher said in The News of the World.

"I have played nearly 700 games and for 15 years in a position where you have to make dozens of tackles every week and that's the first time I've made a challenge that did not look so good.

"Nani mis-controlled it slightly and the ball was in mid-air as I got to him. I thought I could get the ball and I mis-timed it.

"There have been a few comments from Nani and Sir Alex Ferguson since but it certainly wasn't intended to be malicious."

Carragher is smarting at Liverpool's latest European woe after being eliminated by Braga in the last 16 of the Europa League.

But the 33-year-old defender believes the Merseysiders are capable of bouncing back, starting against Sunderland on Sunday with the club more stable than 12 month previous.

"It is much different now to when we went out of Europe a year ago," added Carragher.

"I feel that the worst is over. Since the new owners arrived, Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clark came in and Damien Comolli joined the club, you get a sense there is a clear direction and things are moving forward.

"The owners have not made a decision yet on the manager long-term yet, but the current set-up has worked well.

"The ownership is tight and the management team is right, so it is just on the pitch where we need to get it right again and there is a belief we will be back competing for a Champions League spot next season."