Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has urged his team to beat Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League opener, and has also outlined the club’s ambitions for the season to come.
“Obviously this year, we have got to get into the Champions League early on and then we have to challenge for the league,” the England midfielder began, speaking to the United Review as per the club’s official website.
“We have to be up there fighting for the league. Then, of course, there are the cup competitions. We want to do well in them and we have a squad that is capable of having a good run in everything. At this stage, when nothing has happened, you set your targets high and we want to win things.”
When asked about United’s ambitions against Spurs—Carrick’s former club—on Saturday, his answer was simple: “Just to win!”
The deep-lying playmaker spent two years at White Hart Lane between 2004 and 2006, before moving to Old Trafford for a £18.6 million fee in July ’06 [via BBC Sport].
Since then, the midfielder has gone on to enjoy major success at United; he has won the Premier League five times, and has also lifted the Club World Cup, the League Cup and the Champions League.
However, it remains to be seen what role he will play for the Red Devils during the coming campaign, particularly considering the fact that Carrick turned 34 at the end of July.
Last season he faced competition in the heart of the park from the likes of Ander Herrera and Daley Blind, both of whom should be stronger as they head into the second campaign in England.
However, Louis van Gaal has also added Southampton’s French international Morgan Schneiderlin and Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger, who make competition in the midfield intense.
Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini—who was one of United’s finest players during the second half of the season—could also be used in the heart of the park, and despite his ongoing class, Carrick may well find himself squeezed out of contention.