Michael Carrick has had his say on Manchester United's 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Our head coach is refusing to get carried away, despite the triumph over our fiercest rivals sealing a place in next season's UEFA Champions League and strengthening our grip on third spot in the table.
However, he did admit a great deal of credit must go to the players and staff for the achievement, while focusing on maintaining our form in the final three games of the campaign.
Here is what he had to say in his post-match interview with Sky Sports on Sunday...
REACHING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
“In some ways [I'm proud of it]. And, in some ways, I think the work that's been done and the players, the way they've performed, and the teams that we've played against and got good results against, I think it's something that we can take a lot from, for sure. I think was well in the distance, a little bit, if we're honest, at one point. So there has been a lot of good work to put us in a position with three games to go and get that sealed. But it's not something we've spoke about as a group really. I think it's not something we over-celebrate. I think it's a step. We want more. We want to be finishing higher up the league but, certainly there is huge credit deserved that goes to the players and the staff, for putting us in this position, at this stage.”
HOW HAVE YOU DONE IT?
“Good players help. Good coaches, good staff. I think the connection that we've all had together has been pretty special and we've had to do it in different ways. We've won games in different ways, with different challenges, and today was a different one again. You just keep trying to do the right things and understanding of what it means to be here, and the players for taking everything on board so, so well. To do it with games to spare, like we have, that's one thing but we want to keep kicking on and finish the season strongly.”
A BIG FOCUS OF OURS
“We've scored a lot of goals, you know. We've scored, I think, in pretty much every game. So I think a big focus of ours has been, if anything, on the out-of-possession work and trying to be harder to play against over a period of time. We knew they played a lot of midfielders today and try to take the ball and trying to control it like that, it gave us a big challenge and then, obviously, we try to put our strengths into the game, you know. I thought we started the game brilliantly. I thought we started the game against Brentford really good as well and I'm just as pleased with the way we finished the game, to be honest. I think, after two setbacks quickly, it could have knocked us but the character and belief the boys showed and the actual quality of our play, after that, was really good.”
THE GOALS WE CONCEDED
“Mistakes happen. They're two fantastic players [Amad and Senne Lammens], who have given us a lot to put us in this position. It's part of football. Fortunately for everyone, we managed to come out on top today. You go back to there was kind of an underlying feeling of belief and it's tested in those moments. We can all talk about it but I think it's that connection with the players, their willingness to work hard for each other, sacrifice for each other and all benefit from it. If someone makes a mistake, we'll help them out and it's part of football. Ultimately, it's quality football. The tactics is one side of it but it's actually the mentality, and the attitude towards it, that gets you through difficult and challenging times. For that period, it was, of course, challenging, but I thought we finished so strongly.”
WE CAN STILL IMPROVE
“It's really encouraging. I think in our little league, if you like, for the 14 games, we must be top, if not near the top [we are top]. But that, in itself, shows there are a lot of things that the boys have done really, really well. Of course, we want to keep improving the little bits. I think we can't underestimate what the boys have done in that period of time and in different ways, which has pleased me the most and gives us that flexibility moving forward.”
WHAT'S NEXT WITH YOUR POSITION?
“It's not about what I like or not like. In some ways, but it's not in my control. So everything has gone so well and I think we know the situation of where we are and I'm happy where we are at the moment. We still want to get better and let's see what happens next. At this moment in time, it's not something really I'm thinking about.”