Carrick: Manchester United not giving up on winning trophies

Michael Carrick is looking for Manchester United to build momentum heading into the busy festive period, with the Red Devils possessing ‘too much quality’ to give up on landing major honours.

Jose Mourinho’s side have been cast adrift in the Premier League title race, with 13 points separating them from table-topping Arsenal heading into Sunday’s showdown with Tottenham at Old Trafford.

They are also nine points behind the top four, with qualification for the Champions League through their league standing going to require a marked reversal in fortune.

United are, however, through to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup and the last 32 of the Europa League.

There is still all to play for on multiple fronts and Carrick insists nobody will be throwing in the towel as the Red Devils chase down silverware at home and abroad.

He told the Times of India: "We want to be at the top challenging. That's not to say we've given up on winning things just yet -it's too early for that and we've got too much quality to give up on anything. We just don't feel we've got the results our performances have warranted; we know it can change.

"This is a massive time to get some momentum because it rolls on from week to week with no breaks now over Christmas. It's a huge time in the season. You need to win games and get on a roll. That's our focus. We know we need three points".

United’s performances in recent weeks have been better than their results suggest, with Mourinho’s men unable to turn possession and chances into something more tangible.

Carrick admits there is a sense of frustration within the Old Trafford camp at how things are going, but insists confidence remains high on the back of some promising displays.

He added: "It is hard to get too down because the performances have not only deserved to win the games but to win them quite well.

"Even when we haven't had the results, we feel we should have won.

"It doesn't feel like we've had such a bad start. It's true you are judged on results. But at the same time you get a feeling and you gauge that kind of thing on performances as well. There are a lot of positives from individual and team performances and, for the rest of the season, I think we will be all right".