Monday, 22 October 2012

Carrick: Still work to do

Michael Carrick says two wins out of two in the Champions League this season is pleasing, but he insists there is still plenty of hard work left to ensure qualification for the knock-out stages.
The Reds currently sit top of Group H having taken maximum points from their opening two matches against Galatasaray and Cluj.
A double-header with Portuguese side Braga is next up with the pair facing each other at Old Trafford on Tuesday night before meeting in Portugal in two weeks time.
"We are not getting carried away," Carrick told PA Sport. "We cannot afford to think that just because we have had a good start it is going to be an easy ride. That is not the case
"It could come back and bite us. We will go into this game [against Braga] like any other and just look to put ourselves in an even better position without looking too far ahead.
"It can be quite tough in the Champions League to judge [who will qualify from each group]. Some people might pick out two teams in a group and say they will be the top two and the others will struggle. Quite a lot of the time, that is not the case.
"It isn't necessarily the teams that catch your eye [namewise] who are the ones that cause you problems. We know even in Cluj, it wasn't straightforward. The lads had to play well to get a result. That is the nature of European football.
"Braga are a good team. You have to respect them for getting to this stage to start with. It is not easy in any league to go through the whole season near the top [and qualify for the Champions League]. You have to respect them. They are going to be of a certain standard and we have to match it."
With six points already in the bag, Carrick says the players are determined to have qualification for the last 16 wrapped up as soon as possible and ensure there is no repeat of last season's early exit.
"It does help the league form if you can get through early. The manager can change things around and rest players," added the 31-year-old.
"He can use the squad and give players game time. The pressure is off. He can start planning ahead knowing the next stage is already secure.
"It's not always possible though. Sometimes it can go down to the last game, which in itself is not always a bad thing. But it's definitely better to get it done and dusted. We hope we can do that."

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