Carrick: English Football Has Moved On

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Michael Carrick - Manchester United (PA)

Related Links

Teams

• West Ham

Players

• Michael Carrick

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has paid tribute to the state of English football, insisting it has improved and is now more skilful.

English football has changed considerably in recent seasons, with the arrival of the Premier League and the huge influx of foreign players, and Carrick explained how he feels it has improved.

“The English game has changed a bit,” he admitted, according to skysports.com. “It is still very quick and dynamic but there is a lot more quality now.”

Last season’s Champions League final was contested between two English sides, Chelsea and Manchester United, and Carrick insisted the game in England was now far more skilful.

“What we had in aggression and robustness, we used to lack in quality on the technical side,” he explained, “but as we have seen now with English teams being so successful in the Champions League, the quality is much better. There is skill to go with the pace.”

The England international also revealed he felt the game in England had all the right ingredients to ensure it was difficult to beat. He said: “The English game is a tough blend that has proved to be very good over the past few seasons.”

Manchester United’s victory in last season's Champions League final has ensured their participation in this season’s World Club Championships currently taking place in Japan.

The English champions are in action tomorrow against Gamba Osaka,  and Carrick insisted he was desperate to win the trophy. He said: “We have a great opportunity to be the first Premier League team to win this tournament and etch our names into the history books. For that reason alone, we are desperate to win it.”

Carrick also revealed that playing in Japan would be a far different proposition from the Premier League, but that he was looking forward to the challenge.

“This tournament is a different challenge,” said the former Tottenham man, “but we have to play to our own game. We know what we are good at and when we play to our potential we are just as good as anyone else if not better.”

Gill Clark, Goal.com