Carrick: We Have A Job To Do

Michael Carrick admits he will be pleased to play in West Ham United’s final match at Upton Park - but the Manchester United vice-captain will not afford his former club any favours.

A victory in East London would move the Reds up to fourth in the Barclays Premier League table with just one match left to play, against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, and that position would crucially secure entry to the UEFA Champions League next season.

Carrick graduated from West Ham’s academy and made 136 first-team appearances before moving on to Tottenham Hotspur and later the Reds. The 34-year-old still has a lot of affection for the Hammers and is looking forward to his last outing at Upton Park, ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium.

“It’s a big deal, having been there so for long and having so many memories,” Carrick told MUTV. “It’s a massive night for them. It’s probably time for them to move on and I must admit I preferred the older Upton Park when it was much tighter, when it was more intimidating and more hostile.

“I’ve got some great memories there. I can look back and it’s nice that I’ll be a part of it and nice to say farewell to Upton Park. But at the same time we are going there to do a job and to get the three points.

“When you go back to your old team for the first time it’s strange, especially going back to West Ham where I started and came through the ranks, but after that you just do your job. This time it might be a bit different, going back for the very last time, but it still won’t take my mind off the game.”

Carrick admits he's intrigued to see how his old employers will handle the change of home ground for the start of 2016/17 as they begin a new chapter in their colourful history.

“Yeah it will be strange seeing them there [at the Olympic Stadium], even if it's just on TV, and it will be interesting to see how they deal with it. Teams have had different reactions when they’ve moved grounds.

"Some have benefited and some have found it tough so it will be interesting to see. Obviously they’re doing well at the moment and they’ll want to kick on from the position they are in.”