Michael Carrick admits he faces a "big challenge" to keep
his place in the Manchester United midfield following the arrival
of Owen Hargreaves.
The England midfielder, who signed from Tottenham for £18.6million
last summer, started the majority of United's games as they won the
Premier League title.
But the 25-year-old will face competition for his midfield holding
role next term from his international team-mate Hargreaves.
"I want to stay here and achieve things here. This is the pinnacle
of the game," Carrick told Inside United.
"They say the easy part is getting there and the hardest part's
staying there, so I've got a big challenge ahead."
Carrick began his career at West Ham before moving to Spurs three
years ago.
His career path has followed a progression which has taken him to
what he believes is the pinnacle of the game.
"Each move was a step up really," he said. "Although when I first
got in the West Ham team, we were doing really well and finished
seventh that season - going down in 2003 was a big
disappointment.
"But to go to Tottenham and to achieve what we did there was a big
step up for the club, going so close to getting in the Champions
League.
"But then to come here is another level again and there's nowhere
else now!"
Carrick accepts that in order to guarantee his United future, he
will have to keep improving.
He believes he has the perfect mentor in midfield partner Paul
Scholes.
"Scholesy has been a massive influence," said Carrick. "Just
watching him every day lets you appreciate how good he is.
"If you ask anyone in the game who's in the know, everyone says how
good he is and how hard he is to play against. To have him on your
team alongside you is great.
"He's just an awesome player and one that I'm watching in training
and learning from, and hopefully taking things from and trying to
do the same."
Carrick's tremendous range of passing was one of the main reasons
Sir Alex Ferguson brought him to the club.
But the midfielder played down his own contribution and praised
that of his team-mates.
He said: "I've got the easy part, they make it easy! Their movement
is brilliant. It's not just where they move, it's the
intelligence.
"Sometimes standing still and letting everything go on around you
can create the space you need, and Giggsy's [Ryan Giggs] a prime
example of that.
"He's so clever and so intelligent, you see that from some of the
positions he picks up and how he does it. It's just great to have
him on our team.
"But it's not just him, all of them are great. You get the ball and
most of the time you've got at least two options, which is a
midfielder's dream really."
