Michael Carrick believes Manchester United are in a better position to reach the Champions League final than they were 12 months ago.

Ferguson's side were tipped to beat AC Milan in the semi-finals last season but were taught a lesson in the San Siro, and they face a similar scenario against Barcelona this time around.

The Catalans are having a miserable time of it in the Primera Liga and Carrick believes United have every reason to be confident ahead of tomorrow's first leg at the Nou Camp.

"The belief is there, just as it was last season," he said. "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."

It is a strangely similar situation for United, who know victory in the two-legged tussle would set up an all-English final with either Chelsea or Liverpool in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on May 21.

While Chelsea would represent a meeting of the Premier League's two remaining title contenders, there is something special about a clash between United and Liverpool.

As a native of the north-east rather than north-west, Carrick is not getting sucked into that argument, or the merits of any particular showdown.

"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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