Carrick: We start the Premier League aiming to reach the Champions League

A new challenge

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is targeting a Champions League qualification spot for the second season running, part of his bid to develop the team while chasing down the Premier League title that has eluded them for so long.

The former midfielder won the Premier League five times as a player. Now he has taken on the job of leading Old Trafford back to the summit of English football.

Carrick played a part in United's last Premier League triumph, and 13 years on he knows a 21st title this season would amount to a "leap". Even so, he refused to rule it out.

United want to mark the 150th anniversary of their founding in 2028 with a title. Carrick, who steered the team to third after taking charge in difficult circumstances last January, says he wants to keep pushing towards that goal.

Appointed permanent manager in May, Carrick said ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash with newly promoted Hull: "We want to evolve as a team."

He added: "We have a lot of young players in the group and we want to help them progress individually, which will take us collectively in a good direction."

He continued: "I think the experiences they have had, and getting used to the feeling of what it means to win a number of matches, is extremely important."

Building on that, he went on: "Feeling that and knowing what it takes first, and what you have to give to reach the desired result, is a huge thing for the players of this club, and of course let's see what we can achieve."

Champions League football remains the target. He added: "Yes, we want to finish the season in the Champions League qualifying spots again without a doubt. It is a challenge, and a big challenge."

He continued: "There are many teams fighting for that spot, and we managed to achieve it last season, and we have to aim to repeat the same thing and then keep the pressure on throughout the season to see how things develop."

He went on: "We want to start strongly, we want to get through the winter months, and we want to be strong and finish the season strongly, so it is about putting all of that together and then seeing where we end up, but we are entering this stage with a lot of encouragement."

The midfield rebuild will decide whether United succeed.

Casemiro has left and Manuel Ugarte has been absent, but Youri Tielemans and Andre Santos have bolstered the middle of the park this summer. The club are also chasing Brighton's Carlos Baleba.

Carrick says United want to improve a squad that already boasts a "very good balance". Few know better than him how much matches are won and lost in midfield, and he is confident the mix is right.

On the value of a talented midfield, he said: "I think it gives you the foundation of the team."

He continued: "I think the foundation of the team is important for achieving stability, in order to maintain a consistent performance throughout a single match from start to finish, and to preserve that stability over a period of time."

He went on: "I think you need a solid foundation in the middle of the team, and to seek to bring its elements together and achieve that balance."

He added: "But of course I think if you look at all the big teams over the years, and the great teams across the years, you will find that the backbone of the team is very strong, so we are aware of that and I think we have a good backbone for the team at the moment."

He concluded: "We can continue to improve throughout our journey in different ways, and through training and helping players and developing them, and I think we are in a good position."