Michael Carrick makes Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo ...

Former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has praised the Reds' ability to replace key players like Cristiano Ronaldo and adapt during his time at the club.

Cristiano Ronaldo - Figure 1
Photo Manchester Evening News

Carrick was a key member of the first team when United lost Ronaldo to Real Madrid in 2009. Despite being the club's star player, Sir Alex Ferguson's side managed to regroup and players like Wayne Rooney stepped up to the plate.

The 42-year-old is currently experiencing a similar problem at his club Middlesbrough. The Teesside second-tier team have just sold their talisman Chuba Akpom to Ajax and there is concern surrounding how Boro will cope with his absence.

However, in response to the Northern Echo, Carrick drew upon his experience at Old Trafford. He explained: "Players from all sorts of different teams at every level move on, that is football, it happens.

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"Even at Manchester United, they had a history of losing players and finding a new way to cope without them. We were always able to adapt.

"Looking back at when we lost Cristiano Ronaldo and all those goals. It wasn’t necessarily about bringing in someone who could score the same amount of goals as him.

"It was not about finding another player who could score 30 or 40 but making sure more players chipped in, sharing them out a bit more. History proves that is what every team has to do at some stage. And that is my challenge right now, bringing the best out of what’s next and making the most of what we have now and we’ll certainly try to do that."

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Carrick's side sit in the relegation zone after three matches having failed to win in the league. Boro travel to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

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