Man Utd 'can beat anyone' says Carrick on how far they can go in the Champions League

Manchester United "are capable of beating anyone" says Michael Carrick when asked how far they can go in the Champions League this season.

Old Trafford welcomes surprise package Sabah on Thursday as the Red Devils play their first match in the competition since a home loss to Bayern Munich in December 2023.

The first league phase fixture ends United’s 1,003-day wait to feature in the Champions League, which head coach Carrick won with the club as a player in 2008.

Asked in the pre-match press conference if United can progress to the later stages of the competition, Carrick said that his team is "capable" of doing that, and it was down to them to show it.

"We certainly can achieve it, we are capable of achieving it, it is down to us now to take the step and do it," he said.

"We have to be humble enough and realistic enough to know where we have come from and where we are trying to go."

Carrick was also realistic about taking "steps" and the need for consistency.

"It is for us to keep pushing the standards, be the best we can possibly be and we want to be there as quick as possible as everyone does, but there is an understanding to put steps in place to be able to do that," he said.

"We are capable of some really good things and especially on our day we feel we can go up against anyone and come out on top and it is up to us to bring that over a consistant period, consistency through games in the end that gets us results."

Carrick called winning the competition the “best feeling” of his career and said it would “be nice someday to feel that again” as United look to make the most of their return to European football’s top table.

He said: “It’s a magical competition. It’s where we all want to be.

“When you’re out of it, you realise how special it is, and when you’re in it, you want to make the most of it.

“I think we’ve all seen some special, special nights and felt some special things in this competition over the years.

“It’s where we want to be, it’s what we want to get back to, and it’s the best competition to challenge yourself and to push against the best.

“We’re delighted to be here, but we’re not here to just enjoy the occasion. We’re here to do business and go as far as we possibly can.”

United’s Champions League return, in truth, feels more like a Europa League or Conference League fixture given they are playing on a Thursday evening and against the champions of Azerbaijan.