Michael Carrick is hoping that Man Utd's season is once again on track after a tough month.
Midfielder keen to fulfil cup dream
Michael Carrick is hoping that Manchester United's season is once again on track after their poor run of form over the past month.
United lost two games in a row during March, including a 4-1 home defeat to title challengers Liverpool that has triggered a series of laboured displays ever since.
But, after securing a morale boosting UEFA Champions League victory over Porto at the Estadio do Dragao - the first English side to do so - Carrick believes that his team-mates have finally regained their focus.
"If it was the case that we'd got complacent then it definitely isn't now," Carrick declared to
The Guardian.
"We have had a big wake-up call over the last few weeks and we know there is no more room for error. That is probably a good thing because we are very focused again, determined not to let it slip.
"It was terrible for us to lose the way we did against Liverpool, but you still have to look at the bigger picture. We lost two games. It was a blip. But we are still in a terrific position."
Cup magic
Before United resume Premier League action though, they will look to book their place in the FA Cup final with a win over Everton on Sunday.
Carrick has come close to FA Cup glory before, only to see United lose out narrowly to Chelsea in the 2007 final - a disappointment that he will want to put right this year.
"It is something I have been desperate to win for as long as I can remember," the 27-year-old added.
"It was always the biggest day of the season when I was growing up - the build-up, everything that surrounded it. I used to spend the whole day in front of the telly.
"The Champions League and the Premier League are now both huge, but the tradition and history of the FA Cup is still very special.
"This is a good chance; it is another semi-final and anything can happen now."
