Manchester United return to the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Wednesday with Michael Carrick admitting nothing will top "the best day of my career" when the Red Devils lifted the Champions League trophy in 2008.

There will be a few differences though. The plastic pitch, that helped shatter England's Euro 2008 hopes but was ripped up for UEFA's showpiece. The opposition will be less familiar in the form of CSKA Moscow, while the outcome is not quite so crucial, given United have already won their opening two Champions League games in Group B.

"Without doubt Moscow was the best day of my career. Nothing tops that," said Carrick, recalling the penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea.

"But I do take more from the losses and the negatives. They are the things that spur me on.

"It is great when you are winning leagues and being successful but that night in Rome (losing to Barcelona in the Champions League final last season) will haunt us for a long time.

"The only way to shake it off is to try and win it again. Until then it will still feel bitter. What happened that night still hurts."