Manchester United's return to the Champions League is a significant moment for the club, and Carrick is determined to make a positive impact. "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," Carrick said. The team's recent pedigree in the Champions League is not as strong as other heavyweights like Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City. However, Carrick is confident in his team's abilities, stating, "We're capable of some really, really good things, you know, and especially on our day, we feel that we can go up against anybody and come out on top."
Marcus Rashford is set to be available for selection against Sabah after training as normal on Wednesday, despite going off with an injury in the 2-2 draw with Everton on Sunday. Luke Shaw is a doubt, however, after missing the session due to workload management. Carrick explained that Shaw was given an extra recovery day, and the team will assess his fitness by tomorrow.
Manchester United's return to the Champions League will be followed by a busy schedule, with Manchester City's visit to Old Trafford coming just three days later. City will have two extra days of rest after facing FC Porto on Tuesday, giving Carrick and his squad less time to prepare for the first Manchester derby of the campaign. Despite this, Carrick remains unconcerned, stating, "I'm not concerned. I wouldn't say it's ideal in some ways, but it's not something that we've given too much thought about."