We all had to live, learn and make mistakes. Even Ronaldo wasn’t ready-made when he first arrived here

MICHAEL CARRICK has told Manchester United’s kids to look to Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes for inspiration – and become red legends.

The former England and United midfielder, now first-team coach alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, says belief is growing at the club’s Carrington training ground that they are developing something special.

Carrick was a Champions League winner as well as five-time Premier League champion in 12 years as a player at United. And that gives him a unique insight into the steps stars like Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial, Daniel James and Scott Mctominay might need to take to go from budding Old Trafford stars to fully fledged icons.

Exploded

“You learn from experience and you learn from winning, but everyone’s got to start somewhere,” said Carrick.

“I was just like them when I was younger – and Giggsy and Scholesy were one of them too.

“Look at this club and all the great players from the past – they weren’t ready made, not by any stretch. They had to live, learn, makes mistakes and improve.

“Cristiano is the best example of that. He came and took a year or two to settle. Then all of a sudden he found his feet and exploded.

“So we are well aware of that. We see the potential the players have and to see them train every day – their spirit as a group and the way it’s developing – it’s very exciting. For some of them it’s only the first or second year playing in the Premier League and, in terms of average age, we have the youngest team in the division by quite some way.

“So they need a bit of guidance and help at times. There’s a pathway and you find how to cope in different situations.

“Going to Sheffield United and being 2-0 down and how you cope with that... then getting 3-2 up and being able to cope and hold on. There have been a lot of learning curves for the boys, some steep ones.

“But I have always seen that reaction, that step up, and we are going in the right direction.”

Carrick has been particularly impressed by Rashford, a young star who has grown in his ability to shoulder responsibility when things go wrong.

Carrick added: “You can’t say, ‘Don’t take responsibility’. You can protect players, but if you are playing for Manchester United, there is a responsibility.

“The lads like Marcus that have been here since they were four, five, six, seven years old know the place inside-out, and he knows what’s expected.

“It’s unbelievable to have that experience at such a young age and to have achieved what he has.

Cristiano took a year or two to settle. Then all of a sudden he found his feet and exploded

So I think it is great to see Marcus acknowledge that responsibility, and be aware of what it means to play here, how you have got to behave and act.

“That’s the next step for him and he’s taking it.”

Massive

United face a massive week, starting today against Aston Villa, then Tottenham and Jose Mourinho on Wednesday, and neighbours City on Saturday.

So Carrick stayed in Manchester last week to train almost the entire first team, while Solskjaer took a virtual Under-23 side to

Kazakhstan in the Europa League. That was a luxury granted by qualifying early from their group – but on the domestic front in recent years Carrick accepts that United have more often been playing catch-up.

He said: “We’ve picked up some cups but in the League we just haven’t been close enough.

“The incentive of success is always at this club. We are helping the lads develop and looking forward to what the future brings. “We can be exciting. And I want them to sample the good times I had here – and more if possible.”

v ASTON VILLA