Carrick: We Are In Dreamland

Michael Carrick struggled to describe the sense of ecstacy and relief in the United dressing room after beating Barcelona 1-0 to reach the Champions League final.

Old Trafford was rocking as the final whistle confirmed the end to a nine-year wait to get back on Europe's biggest stage. So, too, was the dressing room.

"It's a happy place I can tell you that!" exclaimed Carrick. "It's as much relief as anything. We put so much pressure on ourselves to achieve big things.

"We were so desperate to get to the final and win it. We knew it was going to be tough but we've made it."

Carrick's midfield partner Paul Scholes struck the stunning goal that settled the tie. Ever modest of his talents, Scholes shunned the opportunity to do any television interviews immediately after the game, but Carrick was full of praise for his team-mate.

"It was an awesome strike," he said. "I've seen him do it many times in training. I've watched him do it a few times here as well. I think that has to be up there with one of his best, especially in a game of this magnitude. To cap off a night like this with a goal of that quality was brilliant."