Aston Villa have announced plans to take legal action against Jamie Carragher following his “unacceptable insults” about the club and its supporters.

Carragher told Villa fans to “shut the fuck up” after facing criticism for suggesting Unai Emery should consider taking the Manchester United job. Villa responded on Friday evening with a statement on X signed by their chair, Nassef Sawiris.

“Aston Villa will initiate legal action against Jamie Carragher for his unacceptable insults about the club and its fans,” the statement said. “Aston Villa will not allow anyone to stop our ascension in English and European football. Nassef Sawiris, chairman.”

Former Liverpool defender Carragher made his remarks on the Stick to Football podcast while discussing the prospect of Emery replacing Michael Carrick at Old Trafford. The 48-year-old Sky Sports pundit argued there was a hierarchy in football, saying “Aston Villa will never be Man United”.

“I’m not trying to annoy Villa fans but there is a chain in football, whether you like it or not,” said Carragher. “So Real Madrid will take Man United’s best player, they’ll take [Cristiano] Ronaldo. There’s very few above United, the same with Liverpool.

“But there will be teams below Aston Villa and they [Villa] will take their manager or they will take their players, so shut the fuck up Villa fans. Aston Villa will never be Man United.”