Carrick: PL Title Or Nothing

Michael Carrick says it is "winning the league or nothing" for Manchester United and insists a top-four finish is not acceptable.

The United captain won three league titles in his first three seasons at Old Trafford and went on to win two more before Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

The 35-year-old has since won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League but United have struggled to mount a Premier League title challenge and Carrick says that must be the aim.

"It's all about winning things," Carrick said. "In some ways, it's winning the league or nothing...I can't get my head around that to say top four is acceptable.

"I know we've had changes and adjusted as players have come in and out and you can't expect to win the league every year, but you've got to set out to do that.

"I was obviously fortunate enough to win the league straight away and, having that run we did in my first three years, gives you that taste of 'right, it's all or nothing now', so maybe I was spoiled in my early years."

Carrick, who joined the club in 2006, believes that talented players have failed at Old Trafford as they could not handle the intensity of playing for Manchester United.

"I think it has done over the years, we can all see that, there are big players who come here and, for whatever reason, it hasn't worked for them," Carrick added.

"They haven't been able to deal with it. There is a certain level of expectation, standards and scrutiny you probably don't get elsewhere."

United beat Manchester City 2-0 in the International Champions Cup on Thursday and will face Spanish champions Real Madrid this weekend.

Credit: Skysports.com