Manchester United midifielder Michael Carrick targets top-four finish for the Red Devils

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick still thinks the Old Trafford club can achieve a top-four finish this season. The 34-year-old star was part of the United side that drew 1-1 with the newly-crowned Premier League champions Leicester City at the weekend, a result that damaged their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

But after local rivals Manchester City lost against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday (1 May), Carrick still thinks a top-four finish is on for United. The Red Devils trail their cross-city rivals by four points but have a game in hand.

Asked if all was still to play for this season, the out-of-contract United star said, according to Sky Sports: "Of course. We will keep going. We have got the games left. We will just look to the next game now and try to win that. That's the only thing we can control and that is what we have got to focus on."

Carrick also admitted he was disappointed United could only draw against Claudio Ranieri's table-topping side, having taken an early lead through the in-form Anthony Martial.

"We were certainly looking to win the game," said Carrick, who has been linked with a move to West Ham United at the end of the current campaign. "It was an opportunity for us to build on what we had gathered over the last few weeks, so we're disappointed with a draw."

Despite this, Carrick was generally pleased with their performance at Old Trafford. "I thought we came out very well and put them under a lot of pressure and caused them a lot of problems," he said.
"We got a goal ahead and then their goal came out of nowhere. We are disappointed with that. It was a cheap goal to give away in the position we were in. That is hard to take but I thought we played well.

"They put so many numbers round the edge of the box and defend deep, and there is not much space to play through but, especially early on, we played quick and caused them problems. Then there is the threat on the break but, all in all, I think we nullified that."