Carrick targets deep run as United return to Champions League | OneFootball

Michael Carrick will oversee Manchester United’s Champions League return on Thursday, with Azerbaijani side Sabah visiting Old Trafford. He framed the occasion as a return to expected standards rather than a celebration.

According to Goal.com, United fought hard to reclaim their place after a multi-year absence, and Carrick wants a sustained campaign, not a brief cameo.

On selection, he said Luke Shaw was handed a planned recovery day. Matthijs de Ligt is in the final stages of rehab after a long layoff, and Benjamin Sesko is edging towards a start after his equaliser off the bench against Everton, having trained fully for about three weeks.

A lighter moment arrived when Carrick cut in on a question about Bryan Mbeumo’s best role across the front line, joking that his forward prefers the left wing, prompting smiles between the pair.

Carrick noted the demands of a relentless schedule, including an upcoming Manchester derby, and stressed the need to trust the full squad. He praised Sabah’s organisation and said United must show full respect to their opponents.

A Champions League winner in 2008, Carrick called lifting the trophy the ultimate feeling and challenged his players to stay humble, meet high expectations and make the knockout rounds their habitat. He wants momentum from the opener before attention returns to domestic duties, describing the competition as magical and stating United are here to compete and push as far as they can.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”