Carrick keen to keep improving

Michael Carrick has spoken about the significant improvements he’s made in a United shirt over the last year and has vowed to improve even further as he reaches his peak. Carrick’s started all three of our games so far this season, undertaking the role of centre back for the first two games in the absence of Rio Ferdinand – and although he was less than convincing at the back there’s no doubting his importance in our midfield.

“Hopefully I’m a better player now than I was a couple of years ago,” Carrick said. “I feel I have improved and I’m hoping to still improve. I’ve just turned 31 and the peak time in players’ careers seems to be a little bit later so hopefully that carries on and I’ve still got the best years ahead of me.” Carrick was easily our most consistent midfielder last year and when Scholes returned in January, they formed an excellent relationship.

He added “Because of the way we look after ourselves, the peak years of a player nowadays is nudging a little bit further on. I look at people like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs and they are still playing great football in their late 30s so that gives me enough inspiration. Every ex-footballer that I have come across has said ‘play as long as you can’ because once it is finished there is no going back. I appreciate how lucky I am to be in this position and I’ll try and drag it out as long as possible.”