Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick attended the press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase match against “Sabah”.
“Elchi” reports that the English specialist stated they are aware of the Azerbaijani representative’s strengths.
Responding to a question about what he expects from “Sabah”, Carrick emphasized that the opponent is prepared by a good coach:
“They are a team coached by a very good manager. They have won many games and are confident in themselves. They press well as a team. That is why we know what kind of opponent we are facing.”
Carrick noted that they have big goals in the Champions League, but stressed the importance of being realistic:
“It is up to us to take the next step to advance in the tournament. We must be humble and realistic. We are capable of achieving truly great things. We can face and beat any opponent.”
Touching upon Manchester United’s results in European tournaments in recent years, Carrick said his team needs to improve:
“We must be humble enough to understand what our results have been in the recent past. This does not diminish our desire to succeed. But one must be realistic. We have a team ready for this stage. We must continue to learn and improve.”
The head coach also noted that rotation is possible in the game against “Sabah”:
“The main thing is to manage the squad correctly and trust our players. Anyone who is ready to play can take the field.”
Speaking about the tight schedule and the upcoming Manchester derby, Carrick said it does not worry him:
“It is not an ideal situation, but there is not much we can do about it. We have to act according to the situation.”
Carrick emphasized that they want to go as far as possible in the Champions League:
“This is the main challenge – to continue staying in the Champions League. We have done a good job to get here, but we want to progress. There should be expectation, hope, and belief that we can achieve something. The answer is always to win. The more games we win, the better our chances of going further in the tournament.”
The English specialist called the Champions League a special tournament:
“It is a magical tournament. This is exactly where we want to be. We intend to make the most of this opportunity. It is the best competition to test yourself by facing the best. We are very happy to be here, but we haven’t come here just to enjoy the moment. We have come here to do our job.”
Carrick also stated that winning the Champions League as a player was the greatest achievement of his career:
“Yes, without a doubt, it was the best feeling I experienced as a player. Playing at a high level for many years gives one satisfaction, but winning the Champions League is the best feeling I have ever had. It would be wonderful to experience that again.”
It should be noted that the Manchester United – “Sabah” match will be held on September 10 at Old Trafford stadium. The match will start at 23:00 Baku time.