Carrick: It's About The Here And Now

Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur kicks off Manchester United’s final run of 10 games this season and, while tough tests lie in wait after the meeting with Spurs, Michael Carrick says the Reds must “stay in the moment” and not look beyond the immediate task in hand.

After the frustration of going out of the FA Cup on Monday night, Louis van Gaal’s men can focus all their efforts on ensuring a strong finish to the campaign with a place in the top four the main aim.

Carrick describes the cup defeat as “a big disappointment” for everyone but, as ever, at United there is always another big game around the corner and the midfielder insists bouncing back against his old club is vital.

“You just have to stay in the moment, stay grounded and stay focused on what’s immediately ahead of you. You can’t start looking too far ahead because you can get tripped up doing that. Our thinking now is all about Sunday’s game - we can’t look past that,” the 33-year-old told Sunday's edition of United Review.

“We know Champions League qualification is vital. Missing out last year was a big blow. This year, we’re in a good position and have given ourselves a chance. We’ve got a tough run of games, starting on Sunday, but we’re at home and looking to play well and win the match.”