Stig Östlund

torsdag, maj 26, 2011

Carrick: Wembley final is so special

Looking relaxed but determined with just a few days to go until Saturday's UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona, Michael Carrick was certainly 'talking the talk 'ahead of the clash against Lionel Messi and Co.

The Manchester United and England midfielder was eager to stress that the Red Devils had learned lessons from the defeat by the Spanish outfit in Rome two years ago, and he believes that the squad is stronger as a result. In this exclusive interview with FIFA.com, Carrick also discusses the impending retirement of Edwin van der Sar, the confidence instilled in the squad by Sir Alex Ferguson and his admiration for Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

FIFA.com: Michael, how have the Manchester United squad grown since 2009?
Michael Carrick: I think we’ve just gained experience. We’ve had good times and we have had the odd blip. You probably learn more from the negative experiences than you do from the good in some ways. We are a close-knit squad and the spirit is probably as good as it has ever been. We’re all trying to pull together to be successful for each other.
How are you feeling ahead of the match?
We’re anxious to get started. There are obviously a few nerves because it’s a huge occasion and there’s so much to gain, [but] we’re just looking forward to it now.
Why is this the ultimate club game in European football?
We’ve won our league, they’ve won theirs and we have both been successful for the last few years. We have played each other a couple of times in a semi-final and a final, so the consistency of both teams is there and obviously it’s all on the night now.

FIFA

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