Carrick seeks UCL improvement

United will be in Pot One, which in theory presents it with an easy passage into the knockout rounds. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Celtic will also be in the upcoming draw (Friday morning AEST).

However, United was in a similar situation last season. Even Sir Alex Ferguson accepted his side should have advanced, only to crumble in its final match in Basle and crash out of the competition before Christmas.

It is not a fate Carrick expects to be suffering again.

"We let ourselves down as a squad last season," said Carrick. "We won't be taking our eye off the ball at all.

"We want to be in the latter stages and fighting for the trophy.

"But we know the work has to be done now. Hopefully we've learnt from last season and can have much better campaign."

Purely on geographical grounds, Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to avoid the likes of Zenit St Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk and BATE Borisov.

However, Juventus and cash-rich Paris Saint-Germain are very dangerous opponents from Pot Three and Ferguson will be just as keen to sidestep them as well.

At least Jonny Evans' reserve-team run-out against Tottenham following his summer ankle operation suggests United will have additional defensive strength when its European campaign begins next month.

Darren Fletcher also continued his hoped-for comeback from his chronic bowel condition, while new boy Alexander Buttner started his first United match since arriving from Vitesse Arnhem last week.

It should help Ferguson ease United through, no matter who it gets, although Carrick believes the side's results at Old Trafford hold the key.

"Our home form was very disappointing last season," he said.

"You need your home form to be terrific to give you the base to progress.

"Over the years it's been good and we'll be looking to put that right this time because we don't want what happened last year to happen again."