Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has backed United in the title race this season because of the fact that they have some great players like Michael Carrick.
He has also branded Carrick is the best English player right now. Carrick was brought to United in 2006 for around £ 18 million. He has gone on to win numerous accolades like the Champions League and the Premier league, but he has never been seen as a Paul Scholes replacement. He has done his best to change this perception in the last few years.
The English international missed the start of this campaign due to injury problems. His return to the starting line-up coincided with a significant improvement in form. United have suffered only one defeat since Carrick has been in the team. This good run of form has propelled them to just 10 points behind the table leaders Chelsea with more than half of the season remaining. Ferguson’s United have managed to claim the title from this position, and it may be one of the reasons for the Scot claiming that United still have an opportunity. A run of six straight victories was recently halted by a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
“They [United] have still got great players. I think Michael Carrick is the best centre midfield player in English football. I think he’s the best English player in the game. I think Robin van Persie, the World Cup has maybe taken a little bit out of him, but you watch him in the second half, he’ll be fine.Rooney is back flying and Rooney will always get you a goal and that’s always an advantage when a team has got a goalscorer in a team. And the one that’s most pleasing to me of the present lot is David de Gea,” said Ferguson.