Arsenal 0 Manchester United 0: Champions League qualification will be 'tough' for champions, admits Michael Carrick

Champions are 11 points away from the Champions League places

Michael Carrick wins the ball against Arsenal (getty images)

After Manchester United's goalless draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, their midfielder Michael Carrick has conceded that qualifying for the Champions League by finishing in the top four this season will be "tough", but the team have not stopped believing their form will improve.

United remain in seventh place after the stalemate, and because of fourth-placed Liverpool's thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, they are now 11 points off the Champions League places.

On reaching the Champions League places, the 32-year-old said: "It is going to be tough as there is a lot of points there. We will take it game-by-game, and go on a run and play well and see where it takes us.

"We have not stopped believing, we believe we will get better," he said. "We have to start showing it."

Carrick could see positives from the draw away at the title contenders, and believes the team can build from here.

"We can take a lot from the game. Our shape was good, David de Gea had to make some saves but we had some good chances ourselves," he added.

"It is not a bad draw, but we came here to win. You have to respect Arsenal, as a point is not too bad."