Carrick: Now we'll attack

Michael Carrick was satisfied with United's goalless draw against Barcelona, but admitted the Reds will adopt a more attacking mentality in next week's Champions League semi-final decider at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side successfully adopted a conservative approach in the Nou Camp en route to a goalless draw. With Barca due in Manchester next Tuesday, Carrick admits he and his colleagues are intent on reaching the final in Moscow.

"We looked very solid as a team and put in a very good performance defensively," he told MUTV. "In a perfect world we would like to score, but it’s not to be. It’s not the end of the world, a draw’s not a bad result for us.

"We could have nicked it. Cristiano’s had a penalty, there’s been a couple of decent opportunities – I had one myself that might have gone in. On a different day we might be sitting here with a victory."

The Catalans rarely posed a serious threat to United's stout defence, but fleeting glimpses of their attacking prowess have reinforced Carrick's belief that the Reds can't go too gung-ho in pursuit of victory at Old Trafford.

"We know now that if we can win next week at home, we go through," he said. "It’s a different game at a different place, so we’ll be looking to attack more – that’s for sure. But we’re not going to do that in a stupid way.

"They’ve got some world class players. They’re not a side you can take lightly, and we’re all aware of that. We know the threats that they possess and it’s going to probably be another tight affair. Hopefully we’ll come out on top."