Michael Carrick is still gaining match fitness but has already
targeted a regular spot in Uniteds team as his aim for the
season.
Carrick made his Champions League debut against Celtic in midweek
and then came on as a substitute against Arsenal, something Sir
Alex Ferguson described as "a big week for him personally".
The £14million signing says he is settled at United, despite a
disruptive summer. The distraction of World Cup duty and a move
back up north from London, then an injury in only his second outing
means Carrick is still finding his feet in the team.
I only played one game before getting injured, so I was
disappointed not to be ready for the start of the season. Match
fitness will take a few games, but Im looking forward to
it.
Im taking everything as it comes, I just want to get in the team
and stay there. But Im not taking that for granted, there is a lot
of quality here.
Sir Alex says his sole major summer signing should have no problems
making the grade at Old Trafford, even if he is yet to truly show
United fans what he is capable of.
Hes an excellent footballer, and definitely a Manchester United
player, the Reds boss said. Hes like Wayne Rooney at the moment,
he needs games to get his match fitness up.
Carrick admits that he only realised how big a club he was joining
when he arrived at Old Trafford.
The club is so big, and its not until you get here that you
realise how big it is. I think that spurs you on and its
definitely a challenge," he said. I was never concerned about the
size of the club when I was considering Uniteds offer. Im quietly
confident in my own ability. You have to be sure of your ability to
play at this level.
The 25-year-old has noticed an explicit difference between the
expectations at Tottenham and United.
Theres a gap between the two, he added. Spurs is a great club
and I improved so much as a player in the two years I was there.
But coming to United is totally different. There is a different
kind of pressure and expectation here.
The real difference is that, at Spurs, if you win a trophy its a
big achievement. At United, you have to win a trophy or its a
major disappointment. You have to take that in your stride, which
is what Im doing."
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