Michael Carrick wants to use Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to Barcelona as a driving force

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    Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick hopes to use May’s Champions League final defeat against Barcelona as a force to spur him on in the future.


    The 3-0 defeat at Wembley was the second time in three years that the Catalans had emerged triumphant in club football’s biggest match and both times Carrick was criticised for being outplayed in the middle of the park against the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

    With both teams set to meet again in a pre-season friendly match in America, the former Tottenham player reflected on May’s defeat and said he hopes to use it as motivation as he gears up for the new season.

    “You have to look forward,” he told reporters.

    “It is not forgotten. It is something that drives you on. Setbacks like that are the things that stick out when you look back.

    “The negatives stand out, not the positives and that one is something we are pretty keen to put right.”

    Carrick turned 30 this week, making him one of the oldest players in the dressing room following the retirements of Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville and the departures of John O’Shea and Wes Brown.

    His manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has responded by bringing in youngsters Phil Jones and David de Gea and Carrick is encouraged by the energy shown by the more junior members of the team.

    “The dressing room is a little bit strange,” he added.

    “I certainly feel a bit older. It is good though. The energy and enthusiasm the younger lads bring is brilliant and training has been really good.

    “The guys who have left are top players but we have to move on. We will certainly do that this season. Hopefully we can improve on what we achieved last year.”

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    Michael Carrick wants to use Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to Barcelona as a driving force