Michael Carrick has declared it is entirely possible for Manchester United to one day match the extraordinary success enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson — though he acknowledges the club cannot expect the same level of patience afforded to its legendary former manager.

Friday marks 40 years since Ferguson walked through the doors at Old Trafford, taking charge on November 6, 1986. The anniversary arrives at a charged moment for United, with Carrick's own tenure still subject to considerable scrutiny.

A dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Roma in midweek gave the manager a degree of relief after a nine-game winless streak. Yet the pressure shows no sign of fully lifting, with Sunday's Premier League encounter against Aston Villa — live on Sky — arriving as the next major examination of Carrick's side.

Building success, not chasing it

Carrick was quick to draw perspective from Ferguson's own journey. The Scotsman inherited a club that had gone without a league title since 1967, and it took him nearly seven years before delivering United's first championship of his reign — the beginning of an era that would yield 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.

"It's difficult to bring success. It was difficult then, and it's difficult now," Carrick said. "It just shows you how tough it is to have sustained success, never mind moments of success."

The United manager was clear that consistency, rather than any quick fix, is the only credible path forward. "Consistency is the key. There's no other way of doing it, and there are no shortcuts," he insisted.

When pressed on whether matching Ferguson's legacy was a realistic ambition, Carrick refused to dismiss it outright. "It's not impossible. Anything's possible. You've got to build. You've got to be realistic, and you've got to put things into perspective as well," he said.

"Success does take time, and we don't like having to spend time, but it does take a period of time to build. We showed a really quick response and improved a lot last season, and that shows what's possible."

A personal bond with Ferguson

Beyond the managerial parallels, Carrick also reflected on what Ferguson means to him personally — a relationship, he revealed, that has deepened considerably since his playing days ended.

"I'm probably closer to him now and speak to him more than I did when I was playing," Carrick said. "Ever since I came here, the impact he had on me as an individual was immense — not necessarily directly, but more through the influence he had and the habits you try to pick up from him."

Carrick described how that bond has evolved into something warmer over time. "Then you move on and evolve a little bit into a friendship, really, which is really nice. It's just the impact he's had, and continues to have, on this football club."

United face Aston Villa on Sunday in the Premier League, with kick-off at 4.30pm, live on Sky.