Carrick: Let Christmas be the guide

Michael Carrick has urged Manchester United’s critics to not judge them until next month, but agrees his team are short of their best form.

The Red Devils have won all three matches in the Premier League since the 6-1 hammering they received at the hands of Manchester City, but their victories have all been slender, with some questioning whether they can keep up with their local rivals after some less than dominant displays.

But the former Tottenham man says now is the time to simply pick up points, and believes the narrow wins show the team have character following their 1-0 victory at Swansea.

“We were not at our best and the football wasn’t as fluent or easy on the eye as it could have been,” Carrick told The Telegraph.

“But we are happy to have won and to have got the three points.”

“At this stage of the season it’s about picking up points.”

“It’s about grafting, sticking together and showing a lot of character.”

“Judge where we are by Christmas and we’ll kick on from there.”

For now, however, United play Benfica in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday.