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Red View: Carrick interview, your Wembley XI, all the Champions League final quotes and more

Friday, May 27, 2011


REVENGE NOT ON CARRICK'S MIND 

Michael Carrick insists revenge is not his main motivation ahead of the Champions League final at Wembley.

Barcelona defeated United in Rome two years ago with criticism, much of it rather unfair, fired in the Reds' direction in the wake of the 2-0 loss.

"We've watched bits of it," he explained. "I've watched it again myself. I find when you watch games back they're never as bad as you think and they're never as good as you think. That was the case with 2009. It really wasn't as bad as everyone made out.

"In a big game like that, little things change games. There were times when we were right in it. Obviously the result is what shines through, but it wasn't a total disaster. Saying that, there's things we want to put right and there's things we will put right."

Carrick has been in excellent form, particularly in Europe, and will be a key figure on Saturday in the midfield battle against Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

"They're top players," he admitted. "I enjoy watching them as much as anyone else when I see them on the TV, but when you're playing against them you have a job to do.

"You respect them for who they are and how good they are, but at the same time they're the opposition and when Saturday comes, you have to do your job.

"I feel good. The boss always says he wants the team to start hitting top form when it counts and we've managed to do that. When you're playing in a team that's playing well, it makes it easier as individuals to be on top of your game and thankfully a lot of us have been in the last few weeks. We need to make sure we are on Saturday."

More: Legend on Red Voices Podcast | Gimme 5: Goals v Barca


YOUR TEAM FOR WEMBLEY

We asked for YOUR preferred starting XI for Wembley this Saturday on ManUtd.com and can reveal the results.

Edwin van der Sar is the choice to keep goal in the last game of his career with skipper Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand selected to continue their rock-solid partnership at the heart of the defence.

Regular left-back Patrice Evra gets the nod but there was plenty of competition for the other flank with the da Silva twins, John O'Shea, Wes Brown and Chris Smalling all options. The fans have opted for Rafael ahead of his brother Fabio.

In midfield, Antonio Valencia pips Nani to the right-wing slot with big-game player Ji-sung Park selected on the left. Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick are backed to carry on their good work against Chelsea and Schalke despite the claims of the likes of Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher.

Most supporters would like to see a 4-4-2 formation employed with Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez in tandem up front, even though Dimitar Berbatov picked up the Barclays Golden Boot this week. 82 percent of votes cast opted for the England striker and Mexican to start, with Rooney and Berbatov the next best suggestion.

Fans' team: Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park; Rooney, Hernandez.

More: Da Silvas stick together | Video of fans' final teams


QUOTE..UNQUOTE IN THE BUILD-UP TO WEMBLEY

Who has been saying what ahead of Saturday's Champions League final.

"We'll find a solution to the game. It's about what's best for us; what's the best way for us to win the match. It will be down to how we operate in the attacking part." - Sir Alex Ferguson.

"In 2009, we never played. We never got on the ball. We weren't Manchester United that day. This time we will give a better account of ourselves." - Rio Ferdinand.

"Obviously Barcelona are a great team and they'll have a lot of possession in the game, but we'll also try to exploit their weaknesses. All teams have weaknesses." - Nemanja Vidic.

"It is in England so Barcelona are the away team. We have played many times at Wembley so that makes us feel at home and hopefully we can continue our good home record." - Ji-sung Park.

"2009 was a big, big frustration and I don't want to experience a feeling like that again." - Patrice Evra.

"I'll be very happy for Fabio if he gets picked. I'll be sad for myself if I'm not playing but I'll be feeling happy for him." - Rafael da Silva.

"If you look at European football then you'd say it's the ideal final. I think the purists and the neutrals would probably say Barcelona and United are the best two teams in Europe right now." - Michael Owen.

"If anyone can beat Barcelona with the talent they've got in their side, it's Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United." - David Beckham.

"If Barcelona turn up, they win. Barca have got to have a bad day for United to realistically have a chance. Either that or United get lucky." - Gary Lineker.

"United will play against Barca as they did against Arsenal, with three men in midfield. Ferguson is aware of the physical superiority of his team and knows that United's best chances may be from mistakes and corners. This strategy is key in the finals." - Cesc Fabregas.

More: Live blog from London | Relive the 1999 final | Video of Moscow

 

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