Michael Carrick has challenged Manchester United to make the most of their return to the Champions League, insisting the club is capable of going further than simply making up the numbers in Europe’s biggest competition.
Manchester United have spent much of the last seven years struggling to make an impact in the Champions League, while Bruno Fernandes has only played in one knockout tie during his time at the club. The midfielder was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or this week and is currently in talks over a potential new contract.
For Carrick, reaching the latter stages would be another sign that United are moving in the right direction.
“We certainly can achieve it. We’re capable of achieving it. It’s up to us to obviously then take the step of doing that,” Carrick said.
The United boss accepts that the club cannot simply erase its recent European record overnight. Since Carrick played in the 2011 final, Manchester United have only reached the Champions League quarter-finals twice.
Michael Carrick wants United to embrace the challenge
Michael Carrick believes that history has to be acknowledged, but it cannot become an excuse for lowering expectations.
“We’ve got to be humble enough and realistic enough to know where we’re coming from and where we want to get to,” he said.
At the same time, Michael Carrick feels United have enough quality to cause problems for anyone when they hit their best level. The issue is proving they can do that consistently, rather than producing occasional big performances.
“We feel that we can go up against anybody and come out on top,” Carrick said. “It’s up to us to bring that over a consistent period, and consistency through games.”
That mentality will be especially important as United look to balance Champions League football with their domestic schedule. Carrick said selection will always involve a balance, with the size and versatility of the squad allowing him to adapt depending on the opponent and circumstances.
The schedule will test that depth, too, with United facing matches on Thursday against Sabah ahead of the Manchester Derby on Sunday.
Carrick is refusing to place a specific target on how far United must go. Instead, he wants his players to embrace the competition and see how far their ability can take them.
“I don’t think it’s a kind of going: if we get to a certain stage, that’s a success, and if we don’t, it’s not,” he said.
One step at a time for Manchester United
United’s manager believes there is no reason to set a ceiling on the team, although he also stressed the importance of taking things one step at a time.
“I don’t think it’s a kind of going: if we get to a certain stage, that’s a success, and if we don’t, it’s not.”
For some players, this will still be a relatively new experience at United. Carrick knows there is plenty for the group to learn, but believes the squad is strong enough to compete.
“We’re capable of doing some really good things in this competition and going further down the line in this competition and then who knows when it gets to that stage?” he added.
For Bruno and the rest of United’s senior players, the challenge now is clear. Returning to the Champions League was an important step. Making a deep run would show that the club is ready to take another one.
