Michael Carrick wants Man United to climb Premier League table

Michael Carrick wants Manchester United to climb the Premier League table after a morale-boosting win against Real Sociedad in the Champions League.

The Red Devils look almost certain to qualify from Group A after a second-minute own-goal helped the Premier League champions edge past their La Liga opponents.

United have managed to notch one win in their last four top-flight outings, and Carrick wants the Red Devils to show a big improvement against Stoke City on Saturday.

“Being a home game, tonight was extra important. We go away now in a decent position, but the group is still tight. It will be a tough game going over there [Sociedad], we’ll hope to go there and get a result, and put ourselves in a more comfortable position,” Carrick told MUTV.

“Of course [our priority is climbing the league table]. We haven’t played too badly, especially against Southampton, but Saturday against Stoke is very important.”

Carrick also admitted United must be more clinical in front of goal after the Red Devils spurned numerous chances to put the Champions League group-stage clash to bed.

He added: “I thought we did more than enough to win the game, and should have won it by more. It would be nice to see some more go in to make it a bit more comfortable; it was a similar scenario at the weekend against Southampton, so we were conscious of a goal in the last minute.

“But, we’ve seen the game out very well tonight and, in the end, we’ve taken away a win.

“I think we can improve on a lot of things, there’s still a way to go until we’re really at our best, but we haven’t been playing that badly. Things haven’t been going so well for us in terms of results, we’d love to score more goals, but the good thing is that we are creating that chances.

“We’re making the opportunities for ourselves, and I’m sure they will start flying in soon.”