Carrick Excited For Huge Manchester Derby

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is relishing this afternoon’s hotly-anticipated derby match, with the experienced playmaker hoping his side can strike an early blow in an exciting Premier League campaign.

Having played in 21 clashes between United and City, Carrick is no stranger to the blood and thunder that these occasions often bring and expects a similar affair this time around, with the recent influx of superstar managers and players adding further intrigue to the melting pot.

"It's a big derby, it's a huge derby. For both teams, you're talking about [landing] blows,” Carrick said. “It's two new managers and two teams coming from different directions and looking to be clashing at the top. Both teams want to win the league. So yes, it's a big game in that sense." 

Despite the fixture's billing, the midfielder reminded us that it's still just one game and it's too early in the season for the outcome at Old Trafford to indicate how the league will pan out.

“This game is for here and now, the excitement of now and the buzz that it's going to give everyone surrounding the game,” Carrick exclaimed. “Whoever comes out on top is going to get a boost from it, of course they are, but that's still not going to tell you who'll win the league."

Carrick’s only appearance so far this campaign came when he started the 2-1 victory over league champions Leicester City in the Community Shield, and he may be unable to add to that tally today given the recent excellent form of fellow midfielders Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba.

Michael accepts that stellar arrivals such as Pogba and stiff competition for places are part and parcel of life at United, and he insists his approach to regaining a place in the team will not change.

“People said to me, 'Someone's coming in in your position, will you be worried about that?' For me that's never, ever something I've worried about. I think you've got to embrace it,” Carrick explained.

"As a player, you do what you can, you do what you're good at. From the minute I walked into United, I've never changed my take on things. I've never taken my foot off the gas when I'm playing every week, I've never worked extra hard to get back in the team when I'm not. I just do what works for me.

"I think football's dangerous these days because from week to week, people get so up and down about things. But it's about the end game, what you're trying to win, what you're trying to achieve. That's how I look at it. Whether you're playing every week or you’re not playing every week, you're part of the squad and you've all got to pull together.

"You want to look across the changing room and see we've got the best striker in the world, the best centre-half in the world, the best midfielder in the world," he continued.

"When you've got the sort of players who can win you matches, it's priceless to have that feeling in your own camp but also knowing that the other team is thinking, 'Hang on a minute, it's going to be a hard day for us,' that's priceless as well. That's what's going to drive you to success."