Manchester United entertain AS Roma in the deciding leg of their Champions League quarter-final looking to overturn the Italians' narrow lead from the first stormy encounter at the Stadio Olimpico last week.
Five times in the past the Red Devils have attempted to get through after losing first legs in the knockout stages of the competition, and on each occasion they have failed.
Three years ago, Jose Mourinho brought his FC Porto side to the Theatre of Dreams boasting exactly the same lead as Roma have now.
Overhauling the lead proved beyond Sir Alex Ferguson's men, although only because Paul Scholes had a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside.
On such fine margins are contests such as these decided. But Carrick is hopeful this time around, it will be the United fans who are singing.
"It is going to be a great occasion," said the former Tottenham midfielder.
"I am sure Old Trafford will be bouncing.
"We are really looking forward to it and we know the crowd will get right behind us.
"We have given ourselves every chance and, come Tuesday, we will be ready."
Outplayed
Although United were outplayed for long spells both before and after Scholes' dismissal in the Italian capital, their sheer tenacity provides genuine reason for optimism.
So too does the precious away goal Wayne Rooney scored, which allows United the safety net of being able to go forward knowing the loss of a goal themselves would not necessarily prove catastrophic.
As a relative newcomer to Champions League combat, Carrick, an £18.6million arrival from White Hart Lane last summer, is loving the experience.
And he recognises just what a lifeline Rooney threw to his team-mates when he smashed home Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's cross to break a 17-match drought in the competition.
"Once we went behind on Wednesday it was vital for us to score," he said.
"Wayne found a great finish and that definitely gives us an opportunity.
"I wouldn't say it was a good result but when you take everything into account, and the fact we went down to 10 men, it was not the end of the world. At half-time, we would probably have settled for that."
With Scholes suspended, Ferguson must decide how to reshape his midfield.
The most obvious move would be to shift Ryan Giggs into central midfield alongside Carrick, with Darren Fletcher occupying the right-wing berth and Cristiano Ronaldo the left.
Another alternative would be to put Fletcher in the middle, which would give United greater strength in wide areas.
Thankfully for Ferguson, at least he has some options now, as he does up front, where Louis Saha will compete with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Alan Smith for the right to partner Rooney and help get the goal Ferguson is convinced will take United through to a semi-final meeting with either AC Milan or Bayern Munich.
"We know the situation we are in," said Carrick.
"We have to score but we are always confident of doing that."
Do you think United will win? Have your say.
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He won't be relishing much of Roma when he looks to his left and sees the "godchild".
have just watched a pathetic display by united against portsmouth...any united team that fields richardson,o`shea,brown,fletcher,ole,and smith and expects to challenge chelsea are mistaken...it is this past few weeks that has shown the weakness of united`s reserve players put to the test..we have not got the quality players in all positions to challenge chelsea for the remaining games...league,champions league and fa cup..just shows the mistakes of not buying quality world class players in the summer or january..we just do not have the world class players to win this season..surely a warning and lesson to fergusion for the future...
patrick..north carolina,usa
The players that we have available will do their best.
We were looking at life thru rose-tinted glasses and this is a reality check.The players need lifting at this time,and they will have my support right thru the campaign.
Even with Scholes, Carrick struggled hold the midfield in Rome for the first 30mins.
Now, with scholes out, I bet that Carrick won't be relishing the Roma challenge on tuesday. He'll struggle and the whole team would too, unless we get some inspiration form either Rooney or Ronaldo.
A pairing of fletch and carrick, the two slowest non skillful midfielders we have had at the heart of our midfield in the prem years, 2 players who cant tackle, score,or create will hardly scare roma, come back ince,butt even phil all is forgiven.
He should have been thinking about Portsmouth.
edinburgh red you are being a little hard on carrick he is a decent player not world class like we were promised. and its not his fault united paid 10m more than he was worth. as for the young man from your fair city it amazes me surley there must be better players in your leagues up there. when you consider the great players in scotlands recent past and this totally useless excuse for a footballer is an automatic choice for your national team.
Well, edinburgh red, I do hope you will be as quick to come on here and hold your hands up if, by some miracle, we should find ourselves in the semis on Wednesday morning.
I reckon that the Carrick household has been receiving extra deliveries of quilted bog-paper since last Wed. The real worry is not carrick but who he'll have to play with and DF cannot be that player! Even Roma know that Fletcher looks like a girl, runs like a girl and therefore must be a ....