Michael Carrick has admitted nothing will top "the best day of my career" when Manchester United lifted the Champions League trophy in 2008.

Manchester United will return to the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the scene of their latest European triumph, on Wednesday.

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.

And, for Carrick at least, there is no sense of reliving past glories. Ask him what will drive him forward in Europe this season and it is not experiencing the high of Moscow again, it is erasing that pitiful low in Rome.

"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 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."

Each of Carrick's three seasons with United have resulted in a semi-final appearance at least. It is part of a Premier League dominance of the latter stages that has seen them supply three out of the last four in the last three years, in addition to providing a finalist in each of the last five campaigns.

Yet the perceived wisdom is that England's quartet of representatives will find it harder to fulfil such expectations this time around.

Inter Milan are eager to start punching their weight, Barcelona's class was evident for all to see, while Real Madrid's mammoth investment exceeds even that of Manchester City, including the world record £80million recruitment of Cristiano Ronaldo.

"You need to give credit to the English teams, who have played at such a high level in that competition over the last few years they have made it difficult for the Spanish and Italian sides to keep up," observed Carrick.

"Barcelona are very strong and Real Madrid are going to be up there because of the players they have got.

"But the English teams are still just as strong as anyone.

"When it comes to the latter stages anything can happen. Little things can turn games. You just need something to go your way.

"For all that, the English clubs are still as confident as they could ever be that they will be successful."