Manchester United captain Michael Carrick has questioned the ambitions of their biggest league rivals.
The 35-year-old said in his latest appearance on ESPN that Jose Mourinho’s team will not aim at anything less than the English Premier League trophy despite any lesser goals set by Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City or Liverpool.
Image: Michael Carrick
Most EPL teams view the top four position as a better achievement because it guarantees a spot in the UEFA Champions League, but Carrick says it’s a low standard.
The central midfielder said it’s either United wins the league next season or nothing for him.
“I can’t get my head around that, to say top-four is acceptable,” the club’s new captain said.
Carrick got his first call-up to England’s national team in 2001. He has played 34 times for The Three Lions and still counting though his tally was reduced due to the presence of equally good players in the squad — Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, Gareth Barry and Scott Parker, whose reign in the team was brief.
“You can’t expect to win the league every year. But you’ve got to set out to do that,” Carrick added.
We can’t be sat here saying finishing in the top four is a step up from last season. That’s not what we’re about here.
Image: Michael Carrick
“We need to be aiming for the top. As players, we understand that, and that’s what we’re geared for as a club.
“We’ve got to put it into practice and take it a step further than we have done the last few years. It’s pretty much win the league or nothing for me.”
United finished sixth in the 2016-17 season. Notwithstanding the disappointing outing, they qualified for the 2017-18 Champions League after a miraculous victory against Ajax in the Europa League final.
