Carrick primed for test against Barca’s best

FOR those tempted to take a punt on Manchester United, the midfield match-up may have them folding fivers back into their wallets.

With Xavi and Andres Iniesta providing the craft in front of Sergio Busquets, the central area will be crucial to deciding the outcome of tonight’s match.

Wayne Rooney will drop in but Alex Ferguson’s game-plan is likely to depend on his midfield four, with Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs in the centre, stretching the Catalans.

Despite his four Premier League winners medals, Carrick has rarely been a popular figure during his five years at Old Trafford but has played both previous Champions League finals and looks sure to start, with Darren Fletcher struggling to overcome an illness.

Lamented for his square passing, Carrick’s ability to dictate play for United will be crucial and he is looking forward to measuring himself against the best Spain has to offer.

“They are top players. I watch and enjoy them just as much as anybody else when I’m watching them on the telly but when you are playing against them, you have a job,” Carrick said. “I respect them for who they are and how good they are but at the same time they are the opposition so come Saturday I have to do a job but of course I appreciate the abilities they have – not just those two but the team. They play in a good way.

“We’ll just play to our strengths and try and win the game. We’ve got to respect the strengths Barcelona have because they are a terrific team but we are there for a reason as well and we believe we have got a very good team and if we play well and [do] what we’re good at, then we are a match for anyone. It’s all who played best on the night.

“We know we can do and what we need to do to be successful and we’re just looking forward to the game.’’

Largely thanks to Fletcher’s absence, Carrick, a notoriously slow starter, has established himself in the heart of Ferguson’s midfield once again.

The England midfielder, 29, has frequently looked like he would be dumped by Ferguson but is still there, summing up the kind of doggedness that underpins the current team.

“I feel good,” he added. “It’s been a tough season for everyone, the way the league has gone, it’s been a tough league for everyone and the boss said he always wants the team to hit top form when it counts and we have managed to do that.’’

He maintains that the lessons of Rome have been heeded and added: “We’ve watched it back, I’ve watched it back myself and I find when you watch games back, they are never as bad as you think or never as good as you think and that was the case.

“It really wasn’t as bad as everyone made out. Straight away, there are times in the game when we were right in the game and we had a chance to win the game. It wasn’t a total disaster. There’s things we want to put right and there’s things we will put right. It’s just getting it right on the night.”