England midfielder thinks youngsters Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley have bright futures ahead of them and believes team will adapt after losing Paul Scholes and Edwin Van der Sar
Michael Carrick is looking forward to fighting for his place in the Manchester United team this season. Sir Alex Ferguson has added Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea to the Red Devils squad, as well Pursuing a move for Inter star Wesley Sneijder, to bolster competition at United.
"I'm not fearful of that at all, I embrace it," Carrick told Sky Sports News. "That's what this club is all about.
"It's going to be tough but every season is as tough as each other."It's a clean slate now, we've had a bit of a turn-around with the playing staff and we've got a really young squad now."There's always competition for places here, that's what makes it so great," he continued."You've got to be on top of your game to be playing and that's probably how we've had the success over the years. If you want to be involved you really have to be at your best.
Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley have also returned to mix for the Champions after successful loan spells at Sunderland and Wigan respectively and Carrick believes young players coming through the ranks is only good for the club.
"It's great to see the young lads coming through. I really enjoy seeing the young lads progressing and getting a chance in the first team."Danny [Welbeck] did really well at the weekend and so did Tom, so it certainly bodes well for the future. They'll be chomping at the bit to get a lot of football this season."
Carrick believes Cleverley in particular has a bright future ahead of him after receiving his first England call-up to the squad that was due to play Holland on Wednesday.He added: "He's a big talent, but not only that, mentally he's spot on. His attitude's first class."He listens, he works hard and his only focus is football and how to improve. He's a got a massive chance of being one of the best."
The England midfielder thinks the loss of Paul Scholes will not affect United too badly as they will adapt to the changes like they have done in the past."It's not so much replacing him, you've just got to move on and adapt," he continued. "We've done it over the years."When Cristiano Ronaldo left three years ago, everyone said 'how do you replace him?' but we didn't replace him like-for-like, we moved on and adapted, and were still successful. That's the aim."Losing players like Scholesy, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar, you just have to adapt. Players come in and stamp their own authority and personality within the team and the squad, and we look to move forward."
