Carrick Playing At His Peak

Michael Carrick has delivered his most consistent campaign in a red shirt and has subsequently placed himself in the running for a number of end-of-season awards. Yet you won't catch him hogging the limelight...

Michael, your first league goal of 2012/13 against Stoke made you United’s 18th league scorer this term – a club record, since extended to 19 by Antonio Valencia. What does that say about the team's efforts?
We’ve shared the goals around and we’ve scored a lot of goals too. We’ve got plenty of attacking players that score and the likes of Jonny [Evans] and Patrice [Evra] have chipped in. We had a spell earlier this season when Pat and Jonny were sharing the goals and they definitely enjoyed that! Rafa has scored too, so pretty much everyone is chipping in. It takes the pressure off the forwards if others contribute.

You’ve been one of United’s most consistent players this term. What do you put that down to?
As a player you’re always trying to improve and learn all the time. That’s what I’ve always tried to do and there comes a stage when, perhaps for a variety of reasons, you hit form and you feel comfortable with the way things are going. It’s probably an experience thing as well. I know what works for me now in different situations and different games, how you cope and how you adapt to that.

Do players of your style, in your position, need that experience to be at their peak? Players like Andrea Pirlo, for example, who’s a couple of years older than you?
That’s possible but it’s tough to say that for certain because there are other similar midfielders that are relatively young and doing well. Look at [Sergio] Busquets at Barcelona. He’s 24 and, although he’s playing with unbelievable players in that team, he’s done really well. Every player is different and some players can peak young and then they tail off, others become stronger later in their careers.

Do you feel you’re at your peak now?
Yeah. I feel like I’ve improved all the time I’ve been at United. You’re always going to have better spells than others. That's natural and you can’t be on an upward curve all the time or play at your best all the time. But as time has gone on I have improved as a player and I’m still looking to improve even now. You have to here.

You’ve been consistent for a number of years for United but people seem to appreciate and acknowledge your influence far more these days. Any ideas why?
I really don’t know and it makes me laugh sometimes with the things I read and comments I hear. Perhaps a few more figures in football have said nice things about my game and then people jump on that. But I’ve been happy with my form for a while now.

Do you think perhaps Barcelona’s success in controlling possession has highlighted how influential your style can be?
That's possible. The game evolves all the time and different trends and styles of play come to the fore or become more popular and are used by different teams. We’re perhaps in a time now where people appreciate that type of midfielder a lot more.

Do you like the attention?
It shows you’re doing your job right and in that sense you have to enjoy it and take satisfaction from it. It’s good if you’re playing well in a successful team, that’s what any player wants. But attention isn’t something I crave or need.

You're one of the more experienced members of the squad now. In fact, you were the oldest player in the team against Sunderland…
[Laughs] Yeah, I was really surprised to hear that because in a way you get used to looking up to more experienced, older lads in the squad. There are senior lads here, older than me, and you don’t always see yourself in that bracket. But it’s natural, time catches up and you become one of the older ones. It caught me by surprise!

Do you feel like you have the influence of a senior player within the squad?
There is a responsibility to set an example here. I’m not one to dictate or shout and scream. It’s more about setting an example within the squad. At this club people like Giggsy and Scholesy don't go around shouting, they lead by example - not just on the pitch but in everything they do. At Manchester United, especially, you carry an expectation to live the right way, to train well and look after yourself. As a package, there is no club like it in terms of responsibility for its players. It’s important the senior lads do the right things for the younger ones to follow.

Has that been a crucial characteristic so far this season?
I think so. You’re bound to go through times in a season where things might not go well. That happens to every team. It’s how you cope with it and it’s a natural to look to the older, experienced players to see what they do or how they cope in certain situations, and you follow their lead. That’s what I did when I was younger and I still do it now with the likes of Giggsy around. You never stop learning and it’s vital to set that example for everyone to follow.