Michael Carrick believes Manchester United can reach the heights achieved under Sir Alex Ferguson but is not expecting the same level of patience. Friday marks 40 years since Ferguson was appointed United manager on November 6, 1986. It is an anniversary that comes at a particularly significant moment for the club, with Carrick's position in charge still facing intense scrutiny.
United's dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Roma in midweek offered Carrick some much-needed breathing space after a nine-game winless run, but Sunday's Premier League clash against Aston Villa, live on Sky, represents another significant test. The timing of Ferguson's anniversary also provides an opportunity to reflect on the scale of the task facing United. Ferguson inherited a club that had not won the league title since 1967 and needed almost seven years to deliver its first championship under him.
What followed was an unprecedented period of success, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns. Carrick insists there is no reason the club cannot return to the top, but believes it must be built on consistent performances rather than quick fixes. "It's difficult to bring success.
It was difficult then, and it's difficult now," he said. "It just shows you how tough it is to have sustained success, never mind moments of success. "We've got to live in the moment.
We know what we've got to do, and we've got to be focused on bringing success week to week in games. "Then things fall into place. If you do that enough, and do it often enough, you'll bring a bigger version of it.
Asked whether it was realistic for United to be judged against the standards set by Ferguson, Carrick said: "It's not impossible. You've got to be realistic, and you've got to put things into perspective as well. "Look at the recent history we've had, where we're trying to get to and what we want to achieve.
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