Michael Carrick

“The Champions League and the Premier League are now both huge, but the tradition and history of the FA Cup is still very special.”

“The 2006 World Cup was the summer I came to United so the England thing was kind of ongoing. Getting to the World Cup was massive but it wasn't until I got to United that I had that feeling that winning was a possibility.”

“If you look at anyone's career, there are times when you have hard times. Even the best players have to struggle through things.”

“As a coach or manager, if it was something that had to be done I'd be comfortable doing it but I'd still be true to myself. I wouldn't turn into a madman or start throwing teacups and screaming.”

“I was relegated with West Ham and you never forget that. Going down, playing in the Championship, I constantly remind myself of that. I still remember the feeling, without doubt, I wouldn't allow myself to forget it.”

“You set out to be a footballer, when you're young, and you think I'd love to do that. There's plenty of things along the way that could change that, and it's the same thing now with being a manager, it's time will tell how it goes.”

“Over the season you have waves. It is very hard to go through the whole season at the same standard and winning games in the same way.”

“I think as an older player, there's a kind of natural responsibility or natural role to go around the lads and say a few things. I had it when I came into the team; when you look to the older boys in certain situations to see what they say, see how they act, and see what they expect.”

“I actually had the chance to sign for Newcastle before I went to West Ham; I didn't in the end because they had got rid of their reserve team. There were a few clubs interested but I liked what West Ham had to offer and never regretted signing for them, I loved it straight away.”

“In a way, I feel there's a Carrick style of playing.”

“When I left West Ham in 2004 there was a chance of them signing me instead of Spurs, but it isn't something I think about too often. I've been spoilt during my career.”

“A decent player doesn't automatically make a decent manager, I know that. But I will do everything I possibly can.”

“I do not take winning things for granted.”

“I was never comfortable at United, really.”

“My worst moment in football was losing that Champions League final to Barca in Rome.”

“Certainly every manager I've played under you take things from them. That's just part of gaining all that knowledge over the years. Some good, some not so good, but it's all part of the process.”

“I think with England, I look at myself and accept that I didn't do well enough; then, other times, I was playing my best football for United and England didn't happen.”

“I loved passing, just feeling the ball against my foot. I think any individual, if you enjoy certain things, you tend to practice it more. That was kind of me.”

“Any experience you go through, you take something away from it, and I've always taken more from the harder times.”

“It is something I would like to do, to be a manager, but that's not assuming I will be. It's something that I can strive towards and see where it takes us.”