MICHAEL CARRICK revealed Alex Ferguson handed him the ultimate challenge when he gave him Roy Keane’s shirt.
Manchester United boss Ferguson presented it in pre-season, saying: “This will be good for you.”
Old Trafford legend Keane had left the previous season and nobody ever thought his place could be filled.
Carrick will never claim to have done so.
But he believes he has been inspired by the No 16 shirt and hopes he has filled part of the huge gap left by the Irishman.
Carrick said: “The manager came up to me and said ‘I’m giving you the 16’.
“He was aware people were asking if I was a replacement and he told me that was the challenge — to go and prove myself to people.
“He said the challenge would be good for me. I knew people were talking about me coming in when a legend had gone and left a gap.
“I was confident that the longer it went, the better I would get and the more I would prove myself.”
His role in Tuesday’s 7-1 win against Roma certainly went a long way to proving he is worthy of his place at the Theatre of Dreams.
There were raised eyebrows when United laid down £14million for the former Spurs midfielder, a fee that could rise to £18.6m.
Ferguson said back then he would prove his worth and rarely is the old master wrong.
Carrick said: “When a club pays a lot of money for you, people wonder whether you’re worth it.
“But I have improved as a player since I came here.
“I’m only 25 and believe my best years are still to come.”
Carrick is looking forward to his first FA Cup semi-final this afternoon against Watford at Villa Park.
But not before reminiscing once more about Tuesday night when he scored twice as United booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals.
He said: “It was quite surreal to be part of it and score twice, it is something I will never forget.
“The game was all set up, yet our squad seemed to be getting thinner and thinner by the minute due to injuries and suspensions.
“But we produced a great performance on the night.”
There is never any resting on laurels at Old Trafford, however, as Carrick quickly found out.

He said: “The biggest difference between Tottenham and here is the expectation from within the squad to win every game.
“There are born winners within this squad. There are lads who have achieved an awful lot throughout their careers and still have the determination to win every single game.
“It is a completely different environment to what you might have been used to.
“Straight after the game against Roma the thought was to move straight on to the next, another test when we will still have to be at our best in the FA Cup semi-final against Watford.
“There is another great incentive ahead of us — to play in the first FA Cup final back at the new Wembley Stadium.”
Carrick had always dreamed of being in the position he is now, with a Treble looming large.
He never thought it could become a reality — which is why he is determined to grab the opportunity that lies before him.
He said: “I have been excited all season, from one game to the next. This move to United and playing in the Champions League and challenging for the title is something you dream of as a kid.
“I have always wanted to see if I could cut it at the top level.
“No disrespect to Tottenham but we were not challenging for titles like we are here.
“I was thinking just the other day that this chance might not come along again. We have got into a position that does not happen very often.
“I have a feeling of wanting to make the most of it. You really do not want to let it slip away.
“You do not want to be sat there watching a final thinking ‘That could have been us’.
“We are in a great position and want to capitalise on what we have done and take the chance because we have not achieved anything yet.”
United have been in form virtually all season with only tiny slumps along the way.
Yet the performance against Roma suggested they have saved one last gear for the final push.
Carrick added: “As the season has gone on we have got stronger and stronger.
“Every time we have had setbacks we have come back even better. We lost to Portsmouth at the weekend and knew we had to bounce back against Roma.
“When you do that it gives you all the confidence in the world that you can win the big games.”
The performance on Tuesday night in the Champions League must have taken the sting out the Hornets.
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd was watching as United dismantled Italy’s second best team.
It should be a foregone conclusion therefore as top takes on bottom at Villa Park.
United, however, will not be lured into that trap.
Carrick said: “I can understand why people might think it is a walkover because of our respective places in the Premiership.
“But we are well aware that cup competitions throw up upsets. It is a one-off game of football and we need to perform. They are going to be up for it.
“I have been talking about a chance that might not come along again but the Watford side will be thinking exactly the same.”
Carrick perhaps relishes the situation more now because of disappointments he has had in the past.
Relegation with West Ham, a sense of knocking on the door with no answer at Tottenham — and the blow of being dropped temporarily from the England squad.
He said: “Throughout my career I have had my ups and downs and I have learned a great deal from the down side. With West Ham I went through relegation and getting into the England squad and then being left out of it.
“Looking back, the experiences were good for me.
“Having had some bad times drives you on and you appreciate the good times more.
“It was like getting back into the England squad meant more than getting into it in the first place.”
Carrick is a man who might be living a dream right now.
He is also very much in touch with the reality of the situation and determined to seize the chances on offer over the next six weeks.
After watching him play and listening to him talk, you sense that even hardman Keano himself might have nodded in approval at the man who became the new No 16.