2013 Year in Review: Top 5 Manchester United players

2. Michael Carrick

If only the 2012/13 season was considered, Carrick would have certainly been the best player at Manchester United, but since it is the calendar year, the Englishman is in second, but only just. After a season that saw him being crowned the Players’ Player of the Year award at Manchester United, Carrick certainly enjoyed an Indian summer.

For far too long, the metronomic midfielder was underrated and under-appreciated, but that is a thing of the past now, as the central midfielder has shown the world that it is no coincidence that United won a hat-trick of League titles immediately after he was signed.

Over the past 12 months, Carrick has emerged into a world class central midfielder, capable of not only picking the perfect pass, but picking off also any attack, with his knack for being in the right place at the right time, when it comes to defense.

The vision and elegance of the English central midfielder has always been apparent, but the addition of consistency to the mix, has ensured that Carrick had his “best ever season for Manchester United” last time around in the words of Sir Alex Ferguson. And although Van Persie’s goals were crucial, it was Carrick who was the orchestrator at the center of the park and whenever he wasn’t present, United were found wanting.