Carrick's Wounded Pride

Michael Carrick insists United can feel proud after blazing a two-year trail through Europe - but admits the untimely end of that run is a bitter pill to swallow.

The Reds' 2-0 reverse to Barcelona in Rome was the club's first defeat in the Champions League since the semi-final of 2007, when Carrick was coming to the end of his first campaign at Old Trafford. He's since lifted the famous trophy of course and was 90 minutes away from doing it again when he kicked off with his comrades at Stadio Olimpico.

"We had high expectations of wanting to play well and to win but it didn’t work out for us on the night," Michael told MUTV.

“We started very well and made chances and if we’d scored one then maybe it would have been a different game. After that, things didn’t go right for us really. We still had opportunities to score but we just didn’t take them.

“Credit to Barcelona though – they’re a good team with good players and they deserved to win tonight. We can’t argue about that."

“We had gone unbeaten in this competition for two years and sadly it’s come to an end on the wrong night. I think we can be proud of what we’ve achieved in the last couple of years, but it’s hard to take.

“However, the club moves on, we have to move on and come back stronger next season. We’ve got to defend the Premier League title and go again in this competition.

"That’s what we’re here for.”