Michael Carrick wants to erase the memory of Rome by reaching another UEFA Champions League final.
United midfielder out to forget Rome woe
Michael Carrick wants to erase the memory of defeat by Barcelona in Rome by reaching another UEFA Champions League final.
The Manchester United midfielder ranks the 2009 reverse as the worst night of his career and is eager to make amends, with this season's showpiece at Wembley on 28th May offering the ideal opportunity.
United have a double-header with Bursaspor to look forward to, starting at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, to as they look to negotiate a safe passage out of Group C having already drawn at home to Rangers and won away to Valencia.
And it is the lingering disappointment of the defeat at the hands of the Spanish giants in Italy which acts as motivation to Carrick and his team-mates.
Came and went
"Rome is the biggest disappointment I have had. It came and went and it was too late. It was gone," said Carrick.
"The thing was, we were so much on top at the start.
"Gerard Pique cleared one off the line and we had all the pressure. Then they scored and we know how it went after that.
"The game just seemed to pass us by and we were unable to do anything about it.
"I suppose when you look at the big picture, it was still another Champions League final.
"But we know we did not do ourselves justice and we want to get there again to try and put it right."
Pretty horrible
Only 12 months previously, the Red Devils had been able to enjoy the euphoria of Moscow, when Edwin van der Sar's penalty save denied Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka and gave United the most coveted club trophy in the game for a third time.
Rome was a complete contrast, with utter desolation throughout the squad in the aftermath of the defeat.
"It was pretty quiet for a good few hours afterwards," said Carrick.
"You do try to get yourself round and look at the positives but it wasn't something I would like to go through again.
"It was pretty horrible. Everyone felt the same way because the whole occasion had been such a let down."
