12/08/2017 10:54, Report by Mark Froggatt

Michael Carrick was named Manchester United captain in July and, a month into the job, nothing has changed in his approach. And why should it? He already knows how to win.

The 36-year-old has completed 11 seasons at Old Trafford, playing over 450 games and winning 17 trophies to become one of the most-decorated figures in the club's history. Following Jose Mourinho’s successful first season in charge, plus an intense pre-season campaign, the evergreen no.16 and proud new wearer of the skipper's armband is confident of achieving greater triumphs in 2017/18.

In a wide-ranging interview with United Review for Sunday’s Premier League opener against West Ham United, his former club, Carrick outlines his aims and ambitions for the fresh campaign.

“It is difficult to say what our chances in the league are but we are setting out to be on top,” Michael says. “We have certainly improved the squad, we look stronger, we are a year further ahead with the manager and his staff, we are in a better place than we were last year, so things are on the up.

“For large spells of last season, we felt we should have been higher up in the league than we were and performances certainly warranted that for large periods as well. But it is too easy to sit here and say that. We need to improve because we ended up a distance away from the top. Hopefully this season we will be right up there challenging.”

Asked if the league is always United’s priority, Carrick continues: “The league is special because it is such a tough division to win. When you come out on top it is an unbelievable feeling to know you are the best team in the country, and you have gone through all sorts of things along the way to win that. 

"Cup competitions are special because it is a slightly different feeling. Winning a trophy is winning a trophy and the feeling you get from it is incredible. There are obviously bigger competitions than others, but we will certainly be fighting on all fronts to win as much as we can.”

It is quite appropriate that Carrick’s first match as Reds captain is against his first professional club, West Ham, who have strengthened significantly over the summer by recruiting a handful of proven Premier League players, including former Manchester City duo Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic from Stoke and, perhaps most notably, ex-United striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez.

Michael hopes his Mexican former team-mate does well with the Hammers, but not at Old Trafford on Sunday. “Yeah I think they have improved. Obviously Chicha is there now and hopefully he doesn’t come back and do too well in the first game! But I wish him all the best for the rest of the season.”

The full interview with Michael is in Sunday's edition of United Review. Available at Old Trafford on matchdays, it can also be ordered online from www.manutd.com/programme.