Michael Carrick has expressed his disappointment that the FA Youth Cup final will be played at Manchester City’s academy stadium and not the Etihad.
Manchester United Under-18s face their neighbours in the eagerly-awaited game next Thursday, and there were hopes that it would be staged at City’s 53,400-capacity home.
But City have insisted on it going ahead at the 7,000-seater Joie Stadium next door, much to the frustration of United and Carrick who was at Old Trafford four years ago when a team inspired by Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho beat Nottingham Forest in the final in front of 67,000 fans.
‘I’m disappointed, to be honest,’ said Carrick, who featured in the 1999 final for West Ham against Coventry.
‘I think getting to the Youth Cup final always seems to have been a thing where you play at the main stadium. It’s such a showcase event for players of that age group.
‘So we’re disappointed. I think I’ve had some amazing memories, some of my best memories, in that competition of playing with your close mates, and it’s a shame that it hasn’t worked out for whatever reason.
Manchester United stars celebrate in the Youth Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace
The 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium is home to Manchester City’s academy and women’s sides
‘I was at the Forest game, it was a special night to see the stadium full for a game like that. It was what you’d hoped for, but it is what it is.
‘There’s nothing from what I know that can be done about it. It’s kind of agreed, and hopefully, as years go by then, then it can be flipped to the main stadiums.’
Man United’s first team will travel to the Stadium of Light this weekend with Carrick still bearing the scars of the club’s Premier League title heartbreak in 2012.
United won 1-0 away at Sunderland only to learn that Sergio Aguero had snatched an injury-time winner for Manchester City against QPR to make Roberto Mancini’s side champions on goal difference.
The Sunderland fans showed United’s stunned players little mercy and were still mocking the club 13 years later when they visited Old Trafford in October.
Carrick, who played 90 minutes for Sir Alex Ferguson’s team that day, smiled at his pre-match press conference on Thursday when he was reminded about one of the lowest points of his career.
‘Yeah, I can remember that. I’ve not forgotten it,’ said United’s head coach. ‘Obviously, it was a one-off kind of feeling and it wasn’t during the game. It wasn’t until after the game.
‘I didn’t really know exactly where the land was lying at that point. So it wasn’t until we walked towards the edge of the pitch, and we had to deal with what was thrown at us. It’s in the past but, yeah, it definitely sticks in the sticks in the memory.’
Carrick admitted he had not forgotten the memories of missing out on the title on the final day of the 2012 season at Sunderland, ahead of his taking his side to face the Black Cats
United go to Wearside having clinched qualification for next season’s Champions League with victory over Liverpool on Sunday. It has brought more calls for Carrick to be installed on a permanent basis this summer, but the 44-year-old remains relaxed about the situation.
‘Listen, clarity is important,’ he said. ‘I think moving forward, it’s come the time of, at the end of the season where, I think we’ve finished strong, put ourselves in a good position, and obviously the situation of my role and what it looks like moving forward.
‘I think it’s just the natural time. It was always spoken about towards the end of the season, if not the end of the season. So nothing has really changed, to be honest.
‘I’ve said from the start I’ve never approached a day here with any short-term decisions. Whether that is different to the outlook from others I don’t know. But from myself and the staff, we’ve made decisions for the long-term; with the group and individual players, how we treat them and try to help develop them.
‘So I don’t think we would change the approach about how we go about things. It might be for other people looking towards me – whether that is players, supporters or media. I don’t know how that changes. Maybe we’ll get to see. From my point of view, I’ve gone about it in a way I feel right to do it.’
Carrick has urged the players to finish the season as strongly as possible even though United are already guaranteed of a Champions League place. Asked what his message to them has been, he replied: ‘Pride, responsibility, playing for this great club. Great supporters.
‘There’s really good togetherness within the group as well, and it’s about improving and evolving all the time as well. In terms of the Champions League, it’s a really good step, but that’s not the end at all. We want to keep improving. We want to finish strong.
‘Maybe it does change slightly, but it doesn’t in terms of us preparing for the game, wanting to do well and whoever plays, play well, and try and win the game.’
