Carrick enjoying his best-ever season, says Sir Alex

Carrick enjoying his best-ever season, says Sir Alex Ferguson

Jan 19, 2013 1:00:00 PM

The Manchester United manager believes the 31-year-old central midfielder is in the top form of his career ahead of the match against his former club Spurs on Sunday

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Michael Carrick is in the best form of his Old Trafford career.

The former West Ham midfielder came on in the second half against his old club in midweek and helped the Red Devils regain control of the match at a time when the Hammers were on top. Boosted by Carrick's introduction, Manchester United successfully protected their first-half lead to win the FA Cup third round replay 1-0.

Now the 31-year-old faces another of his former sides when United travel to White Hart Lane, hoping to avenge their 3-2 defeat to Tottenham earlier this season at Old Trafford.

"I think he's been magnificent," Sir Alex said of Carrick on the club's official website.

"It's his best-ever season at the club and he's commanding that position. He's doing absolutely brilliantly.

"Even when he came on against West Ham, he helped ease us through the last 20 minutes. Good players do that. He came on and settled us down."

Carrick has made 25 appearances for Manchester United this season, scoring once and assisting a further four goals.

His improved form has also seen Carrick play his way back into the England squad under Roy Hodgson, after he had effectively retired from international football when refusing to be a standby for Euro 2012.

He made the switch from Spurs to United in 2006, and has since played an integral part in the Red Devils' Premier League and Champions League successes.

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Champions League final - LIVE!

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

11:08 PM BST

Right, that's just about it from me, folks. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We hyped this one up. We said it was going to showcase everything that is great about German football. And you know what? It delivered. It was an absolutely absorbing final between the continent's top two sides, a fitting conclusion to what has been a fantastic tournament. Impossible not to feel so, so sorry for Dortmund but they need only to look at what Bayern have done tonight, lifting the trophy just 12 months after throwing it away, to see that it's possible to bounce back from this kind of devastation.

But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.

11:00 PM BST

Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has finally faced the press and, judging by his comments, is a tad upset with perhaps something other than the final scoreline.

"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.

"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."

10:56 PM BST

Sir Alex Ferguson also has a new job... Well, kind of. The former Manchester United boss was entrusted with the honour of presenting the man of the match award after the game and relished the task: "It's my first job since I retired and it's a pleasure!"

Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.

10:51 PM BST

Heynckes, class act that he is, was also quick to empathise with a devastated Dortmund.

"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.

"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.

"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."

10:48 PM BST

And finally we get to hear from Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer.

The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!

"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."

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