Michael Carrick has warned his Manchester United team-mates against complacency over Christmas as they look to consolidate their position at the top of the Premier League.
Despite having two matches postponed this month – against Blackpool on 4 December and then against Chelsea last weekend – United find themselves two points clear going into the festive period. This is the stage of the season when Sir Alex Ferguson's side traditionally gain momentum and Carrick believes after a slow start, the same is happening this campaign.
"You hope that spell is behind us," the midfielder said. "It's never far away, though, if you start to take your foot off the pedal. A couple of bad performances and bad results aren't far behind. That's what keeps you going and keeps you on your toes."
Although – weather-permitting – United will play four matches in 10 days over Christmas, the fixture list has been fairly kind to them, with home games against Sunderland and Stoke, and trips to Birmingham and West Brom. But Carrick said there can be no let-up in intensity from their last match, the 1-0 win over Arsenal.
"You've got to keep the standards high and that's been the strength of this club over the years, maintaining that quality," Carrick told the club's website. "It was a frustrating time earlier on in the season when we felt we were throwing away some games when we were in front.
"Now, we look back and it seems as though we've had a good run under the circumstances having not lost a game yet, and we're satisfied with the position we're in. It's funny how things can change in this league, but we're not getting carried away. We'll assess it again after Christmas and see what position we're in then."
Asked why United always seem able to push on in the new year, Carrick continued: "It's difficult to put your finger on. I think after Christmas you've got your eyes on the finish line, and that just brings everyone together with the same aim. It could also be that this is when the big league games and the cup games come around, and it lifts us.
"Every game seems to be more important and when the business end of the season comes around the big games are the ones that count. We seem to relish it. But I don't think there's a formula for it, it just happens at United."
