With Lionel Messi fit and both Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o sniffing blood, Barca have plenty of quality in their ranks even if Ronaldinho has been ruled out.
Yet Carrick feels United boast enough quality in their midst for the Catalans to be the ones who have most to fear.
And, on the Reds' first trip to the Nou Camp since that never-to-be-forgotten night against Bayern Munich in 1999, the England star is convinced United can emerge with at least one away goal to ease the path towards Moscow next month.
"It will be a test but I would like to think it will be more of a test for them and how they cope with us," said Carrick.
"If we can get a goal or two on Wednesday, it would be a really big boost coming back to Old Trafford.
"As a footballer, it does not get much better. The way we both play our football sets it up as the perfect game to watch.
"It promises to be a great spectacle and obviously, everyone is talking about it because you dream about being involved on a night like this at the Nou Camp.
"Manchester United have not been there for a while but the lads who were around in 1999 have spoken about what a special night it was. Hopefully we can repeat some of that success."
Although the opposition is different, Carrick is aware that the positive noises coming from the United camp about this semi-final are similar to those ahead of the meeting with AC Milan 12 months ago - which the Reds lost.
Strength
But the midfielder sees greater strength in depth at Old Trafford this time.
"The belief is there, just as it was last season," said Carrick.
"But we have enough bodies here to cope now and it is the depth of the squad which has got us into this position.
"We have the options and variety to cope with the differing situations we find ourselves in, whereas last year we ended up a little bit thin and couldn't quite pull it off in Milan when it mattered.
"These games are won and lost on little details. We need them to go our way but we certainly have the players and the confidence, so hopefully, it will work in our favour this time around."
A United win would set up an all-English final with either Chelsea or Liverpool in the Luzhniki Stadium on May 21.
As a native of the north-east rather than north-west, Carrick is not getting sucked into the argument about whether United versus Liverpool would make a better final than United versus Chelsea.
"I don't care what would make a nice final," he said.
"All I care about is Manchester United being in it and Manchester United winning it."
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
GC Northstand (21/04/2008 at 18:19)
Red Dawn (21/04/2008 at 18:32)
I honestly think we'll lose at the Camp Nou, 2-0, for the following reasons.
1) We'll pay them too much respect and bottle it.
2) Ronaldo will not turn up on the night.
3) Rooney cannot score to save his life.
4) Ferguson will start Ryan Giggs, leaving Tevez on the bench, and start with a negative formation with players playing out of position.
Combine those reasons and you have to ask yourself, where will the goals come from?
Messi may not be at 100%, but he's back, and he is a real danger. Evra will have to put in the performance of lifetime to stop him, and I believe Rooney will be deployed on the left of a 5 man midfield in a bid to track back to aid Evra in stopping him.
No doubt about it, Ryan Giggs has been a great servent and a great player for United, but he is playing very poorly at present and doesn't deserve a place in the side on that form. People phone in to MUTV defending him when other say he's finished etc..., but their defence is that he 'has been' a great player for United and no talk about recent performances. It doesn't matter who you are, if you're not producing the goods on the field, you deserve to be criticised for it.
Puyol may be out for Barca, but that's not weakening the side at all. They have Marquez or Thuram to step in who will do just as good, if not better job. Puyol is completely overrated.
To sum up, I am in no way confident going into this game, and I strongly believe we'll lose the game.
I hope I'm proved wrong come wednesday night.
manu fan, Old Trafford (21/04/2008 at 19:32)
Peter Doherty. As good as it gets! Levenshulme. (Debt Free) (21/04/2008 at 19:39)
simplyred, sydney
21/04/2008 at 12:29
It's enough to make the cat laugh!
Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (21/04/2008 at 19:46)
Steve Chew, usa (21/04/2008 at 21:57)
Arthur Zambezi, Lilongwe (22/04/2008 at 07:04)
Thomas, Norway (22/04/2008 at 08:23)
Alias Smith, over the moon (22/04/2008 at 08:33)
As for potential final opponents, the thought of losing to Liverpool in the final is unthinkable but we have shown ourselves to be a much better side than they are so you would fancy us to win and the thought of that against them is pretty amazing. Chelsea are tougher opponents and there's always the Russian factor with the final in Moscow. On balance, I'll take Liverpool.
bobbydazzler (22/04/2008 at 09:44)
rio has played far more games had far more great performances and been TWICE as influential.
i am not a carrick basher the lad is a decent enough player and well worth his place but you do rio a great disservice, he has had an amazing season.
TMUF, Manchester (22/04/2008 at 09:57)
My team would be:
VDS
Brown,Rio,Vidic,Evra
Hargreaves,Carrick,Scholes
Ronaldo,Rooney,Nani
Tevez and Anderson would be great subs (like Arsenal) and with the top 3, should have enough pace and trickery to get us the vital away goal.
Mick, Dublin (22/04/2008 at 10:19)
I would put Vidic right behind Rio, then Rooney, then Evra, then Carrick, then Tevez, with Nani, Anderson, Scholes, Hargreaves and good ol' Wes Brown all on a par.
All of which speaks volumes about the improvement Carrick has shown in his second season at the club.
If Hargreavee and Anderson improve by the same amount next season we'll have a seriously impressive central midfield. Not far off Keane and Scholes at their peak, IMO.
bellion's boots (22/04/2008 at 11:17)
Let's not dissapoint them!!
Allez les Rouges
Bellion's boots , amsterdam
saha rocks, work (22/04/2008 at 11:45)
Alias Smith, over the moon (22/04/2008 at 12:01)
Johnny The Truthful One Smith (22/04/2008 at 12:12)
bobbydazzler (22/04/2008 at 12:23)
AS, Ipswich (22/04/2008 at 13:13)
I will definitely go with Ronaldo on top with the option to change to 4-4-2 if we have to with OH on the right and Nani/Park on the left. Carrick and Anderson should be fine in the CM. The main tactic i saw lots of teams employed in the past is to stop Barca building from the back by pushing the team high on the pitch to stop the GK passing the ball to defenders.This due to the fact that they dont like to play long at all.
JonyB-), North Staffs (22/04/2008 at 13:22)
"By and large he's done okay" but stillmanaged to be the "pick of our midfielders" - What more does he need to do??
I'm a massive Carrick fan - he may not be world class but he's that all important player that keeps the team ticking over and allowing the best a platform to perform on... Our Own Water carrier!!
Red Dawn (22/04/2008 at 13:37)
I don't think Barca are the superior side, I never said that. I'm saying the team has a habit of bottling against the top sides, and will in awe of Barcas players and where they are playing on the night, i.e. Camp Nou.
It's been proven since the turn of the new millenium away from home in Europe against the top foreign sides.
1) Madrid away - 02/03 - Bottled it - Lost 3-1. We got hammered that night.
2) Both seasons we played AC Milan away - Bottled it, losing 3-0 and 1-0 (or was it 2-0?)
I have no doubt we'll beat Barca at home, but if we don't get the right result away, we're screwed basically.
We're a better side than Barca, but for reasons previously mentioned, I can see us getting a pasting tomorrow night.
Lord Ruud (22/04/2008 at 13:51)
Last season he deferred to Scholes a lot and looked for the easy pass, but when Scholes was out this season I think it made him and while he still looks for Scholes in tight situations he takes charge more now.
He isn't a flashy player and so like Beckham his good distribution gets taken for granted. But, much like when Alonso first came to Liverpool he performs a job that allows us to get forward quickly and he also is getting better at taking up defensive postions too.
The only problem with Carrick is his pace, and that means he tends to sit and with Scholes and Giggs not gettign forward like they used to, it means a lack of support for the forwards and less goals from midfield. This is where I hope next season Anderson will improve us.
bobbydazzler (22/04/2008 at 14:01)
JonyB-), North Staffs (22/04/2008 at 14:06)
i really wouldn't say we've'bottled' it - but i think we've been niave and out thought tactically wise. SAF tactics choice as alwaysbeen his weakest point.
Last season we we're generally bad away from home - losing more than once and being continualy outplayed.
This season to much of the chargrin of may supporters we've put away the full pelt blood and guts nievaty and played like european seasoned vetrans - something he's finaly been able todo with the players he now has at his disposal. If he is ever towin it again - i believe it is THIS year!!
C'Mon You Red Devils!!
Steve, Glossop (22/04/2008 at 15:08)
Alias Smith, over the moon (22/04/2008 at 15:31)