Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick believes the home
win over Aston Villa earlier this month will prove to be the
pivotal result in the Red Devils’ season if the club go on to seal
the Premier League title.
After Thursday night’s victory over Portsmouth few would now bet
against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men going on to complete a
record-equalling 18th league championship, but there was not the
same level of certainty a few weeks ago after defeats to Fulham and
Liverpool.
While Carrick is refusing to get carried away with United’s
position three points clear of Liverpool with a game in hand, he
has identified what he regards as the point when the club got their
bid for a third consecutive title back on track.
’’Sometimes in a season you get a feeling that one moment is
going to make all the difference. Aston Villa was one of them. It
was a huge win,’’ said the England midfielder, who was speaking at
the NSPCC’s Young People’s Centre in
Warrington.
’’We were losing and ended up with Federico Macheda and Danny
Welbeck up front.
’’At that point people wouldn’t have given us much hope. Getting
a victory that day gave a massive lift to everyone and since then
things have gone pretty well.’‘
As far as Carrick is concerned a title hat-trick cannot be taken
for granted despite Liverpool dropping points in Tuesday’s 4-4 draw
with Arsenal.
’’We are only talking about one game,’’ said the 27-year-old
midfielder. ’’In a lot of people’s eyes last week we were not going
to win the title. All of a sudden the same people are now saying it
is a given. There are a lot of matches to play and there may be
more twists and turns.
’’Hopefully there aren’t. Hopefully we win every game. But we
can’t get too disappointed or too carried away with individual
results. That is the attitude [that] will see us through.’‘
United are set to welcome Wes Brown back into the fold against
Carrick’s old club Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Brown has reported no reaction to his foot injury following a
reserve team outing at Preston North End on Monday, which is just
as well given Gary Neville and John O’Shea are both likely to be
out for ‘weeks’ according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The pair may well be back before the end of the season, with
Neville’s injury not apparently another broken metatarsal, the
injury that ruled him out of the 2002 World Cup.
However, Brown, who apart from two substitute appearances has
been out of action since October, will be a valuable addition to
face Harry Redknapp’s men.
’’We have had a good couple of weeks,’’ said Carrick. ’’But it
is win at all costs now. If we can now beat Tottenham we really
will be in a good position.’‘
Rio Ferdinand is also expected to return to the United squad
ahead of a busy week which includes the first leg of the Champions
League semi-final against Arsenal at Old Trafford next
Wednesday.
The pair have fought out many famous duels before of course. But
this promises to be something different entirely.
’’It is going to be strange,’’ said Carrick. ’’It is different
playing another English team when there is so much at stake. League
games are big, but there is always another one. If things don’t go
well in the Champions League you are out.
’’We have no intention of letting that happen. I have not
forgotten the feeling I had in Moscow last year. I want to
experience it all over again.’‘