Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool at Old Trafford (kick-off 15:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
The squad is in "good shape" going into the final four fixtures of the season. He is "hopeful" Matheus Cunha and Luke Shaw could feature in the matchday squad, but Matthijs de Ligt is "a bit further away" from returning.
He has been "hugely impressed" with 21-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who signed a new five-year deal earlier this week: “I’ve known him for quite some time, in different capacities. He epitomises this football club. He lives and breathes the club and he has come through with real talent. The natural thing for him was to sign a new contract, so everyone is over the moon.”
When asked about the first conversation he had with the out-of-favour academy graduate on his return to the club, Carrick said: "I wanted to understand what life had looked like for him over the past two or three years – the ups and downs, plus the challenging times. It was about letting him thrive and giving him the platform to be himself. He has evolved from that."
Casemiro's longevity has been down to "hard work and sacrifice". On the 34-year-old, he said: "When you cross the 30-mark, it's about trusting the player to know themselves. We're trying to play to his strengths now, if anything, and we have real trust in his experience. He knows what he's good at and what he can bring to this team."
It is a "privilege" to take charge of a game against long-standing rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. However, Carrick didn't say if he was hoping it would be the first of many for him in the dugout, instead adding that the opportunity is a "special" one.
He added: "It is a standout game, without a doubt. There are obviously rivalries that we have with other teams, but this one is right up there because of the history, the ups and downs, the entertainment and the emotions. Even league position has never changed the emotion for the players or the supporters, so I really appreciate what it means to them."
On the opportunity to finish above Liverpool this season: "That shows the improvement of this group. We have been getting stronger and we are coming into this game in such a good position. I'm fully aware of how close things are between us, but that isn't something we are focusing on."
Liverpool are a "good team with good players, who won the league last year", so Sunday's fixture will be "a whole different ball game" for his players.
Manchester United are on the brink of securing European football for next season, so the aim should now be to "keep evolving" season on season: "We want to be a successful team that wins trophies again. That has to be the aim. It isn't going to be easy or straightforward, but it has to be the challenge. We want to be competing for the biggest trophies. We've done it in the past and we need to be doing it again."
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