Carrick ready for the step up
02/08/2006 14:29, Report by Ben Hibbs
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Michael Carrick may have taken Roy Keane’s shirt number, but United
have an altogether different kind of midfielder wearing the No.16 shirt,
according to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Keane was a ferocious motivator, talismanic captain and a player who
rarely surrendered possession and nearly always picked out the right
pass. The ￡14million signing from Tottenham does share some qualities
with the Irishman, his ability to retain the ball will be a key asset
to United’s midfield.
That was uppermost in Sir Alex's intention to bring Carrick from White
Hart Lane for a fee which could rise to over ￡18million depending on
personal and club success in the future.
"We all recognised that the midfield was an area which we needed to
bolster,"said Sir Alex at a press conference unveiling the club's
first summer purchase. "People talk about replacing Roy Keane, but
you can't get another Roy Keane. We've been trying for five years.
"You could say that it would take four players to replace him. We have to
accept he was one of the best players of all time. What we need is good
footballers and players of good ability in midfield. Michael is an excellent
footballer and a very good passer of the ball. In particular his range of
passing is good.
"Roy Keane was a possession player, an A-to-B passer," he added. "His
percentage of successful passes was incredible, always over 90 percent.
Michael is more imaginative with the ball, he will hit long or short
passes. He's different to Roy, but he has the ability to retain possession,
which Roy was so good at.”
Pressure to live up to expectation comes with the territory at Old Trafford,
but Carrick believes the challenge is one to embrace, not shrink away from
– an attitude Keane would admire and implore any new signing to take.
"I put more pressure on myself to perform than anyone else does, so in that
respect it won't bother me,” Carrick says.
"And as for Roy Keane, people will always talk about him because he's a
legend,” he added. "I'm my own man and it's not something I'm really
focusing on. I'll concentrate on my own game and make sure I'm using
my own attributes in the best possible way. That’s the best way to be.”
United's interest in Carrick spanned the majority of the summer, with an
initial enquiry before the start of the World Cup. However, even after
Tottenham rejected United’s first offer, the former West Ham midfielder
was intent on coming to Old Trafford.
"Once I heard United were interested I wanted to come,” he said. "It's
a terrific club that has been successful over the years. I just wanted
to come, improve, be a better player and win trophies.
"It's an awesome set-up, that's clear right from the start and I've
settled in really quickly. Everyone has been great. The backroom staff
have been superb with me and the lads have made me feel welcome. I'm
delighted to be here and looking forward to playing my first game.”
Carrick will travel with the rest of the squad to the Amsterdam
tournament this weekend, where he could make his United debut on
Friday evening against FC Porto.
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