De Boer slammed by Jose
is still ready to play a part if needed in the final three months of the campaign that could yet end with FA Cup and Champions League glory.
After considering calling it a day in September, he wanted to go out on his terms rather than medical ones.
Having helped United reach three Champions League finals and a semi-final, Carrick would love to go into retirement having helped the club re-establish themselves as a European force, starting with a win over Sevilla tonight, which would put them in the last eight for only the second time in seven seasons.
He said: “For so long being involved in the latter stages of the Champions League was kind of a given – not taken for granted – but it was just what we did and, when you go without that for a few years, it kind of hurts, you miss it.
“But we are back in the knockout stages where it really counts and you get that extra spicy feeling. Sevilla will be a tough match but, if we play like we can do, we have a great chance. And for the seasons ahead we need to develop as a squad, be constantly in this position – and expect it of ourselves.”
Young McTominay, for one, will no doubt heed Carrick’s rallying call. (4-2-3-1) (4-2-3-1) DE GEA RICO VALENCIA MERCADO BAILLY KJAER SMALLING LENGLET YOUNG ESCUDERO McTOMINAY NZONZI MATIC BANEGA MATA SARABIA SANCHEZ VAZQUEZ RASHFORD CORREA LUKAKU MURIEL REF: D Makkelie (Holl). TV: BT Sport 2. KICK-OFF: 7.45pm. JOSE MOURINHO has hit back at Frank De Boer by describing the Holland legend as the worst boss in Premier League history.
The Manchester United manager responded to De Boer’s claims, after Marcus Rashford had scored twice against Liverpool on Saturday, that Mourinho lacks patience with youngsters and is too interested in results.
Working as a pundit for BT Sport, De Boer said: “It’s a pity that the manager is Mourinho, because he’s [Rashford] an English player, you want to give him time and he can then make mistakes. But Mourinho is not like that. He wants to get results.” But Mourinho, left, poked fun at De Boer’s record at Crystal Palace, where he was sacked after only five competitive games earlier this season. Mourinho said: “I read something, some quote from the worst manager in the history of the Premier League, Frank De Boer. What he was saying was it was not good for Marcus Rashford to have a coach like me because the most important thing for me is to win.
“But if he was coached by Frank he would lose because he lost every game. I try to give the best to the kid, I have to be honest and give the credit to the people of the academy that were responsible for his formation and to Louis van Gaal, who was responsible for his first season.
“But if you go to his numbers and how many matches he played with me last season and this season, I would say probably he’s in the top five players with more matches in the two seasons and the same applies to Scott McTominay. The best thing that can happen to a kid is experiences and Marcus is having these.”
RICHARD TANNER