Michael Carrick admits he is already looking forward to pitting his wits against Barcelona.
United midfielder excited by the prospect of semi-final
Michael Carrick admits he is already looking forward to pitting his wits against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.
The Manchester United midfielder was part of the side that comfortably dispatched Roma on Wednesday night at Old Trafford, to book a mouth-watering clash with Barcelona.
It was the Catalan capital that proved to be the venue for Sir Alex Ferguson's finest hour as United boss, the 1999 European Cup final victory over Bayern Munich, and Carrick is hoping the current crop can book their own place in the club's illustrious folklore.
"They're the games you want to be playing in, there is so much at stake," Carrick told
Sky Sports News.
"Two great teams going for it should be two great spectacles of football matches.
"Hopefully we'll have enough to come out on top."
Premier strength
Barcelona are the only non-English side to reach the competition's last four and Carrick believes such an achievement is testimony to the current strength of the Premier League.
Should United see off Barcelona, who beat Schalke in their quarter-final, then either Chelsea or Liverpool would wait in Moscow for the final - a potential match-up that Carrick concedes it is difficult not to get excited about.
"I think it shows just how strong it is, to be that consistent. Liverpool have been very strong in recent years and we also had the semi-final last year and again this year.
"We hope we can go further this year and to have an all-English final would be something special. There's still a way to go before we can get carried away with that. But it does show how football in this country is getting better and better."
