Manchester United captain Michael Carrick is convinced their squad can handle challenging on all fronts this season.

In a wide-ranging interview with United Review for Sunday's Premier League opener against West Ham United, his former club, Carrick outlines his aims and ambitions for the fresh campaign.

“It is difficult to say what our chances in the league are but we are setting out to be on top," Michael says. “We have certainly improved the squad, we look stronger, we are a year further ahead with the manager and his staff, we are in a better place than we were last year, so things are on the up.

“For large spells of last season, we felt we should have been higher up in the league than we were and performances certainly warranted that for large periods as well. But it is too easy to sit here and say that. We need to improve because we ended up a distance away from the top. Hopefully this season we will be right up there challenging."

Asked if the league is always United's priority, Carrick continues: “The league is special because it is such a tough division to win. When you come out on top it is an unbelievable feeling to know you are the best team in the country, and you have gone through all sorts of things along the way to win that.

"Cup competitions are special because it is a slightly different feeling. Winning a trophy is winning a trophy and the feeling you get from it is incredible. There are obviously bigger competitions than others, but we will certainly be fighting on all fronts to win as much as we can."