Rafael Benitez will demand that his players put Champions League glory out of their minds and transform their last two crucial league matches into finals in their own right. The continual reruns of the incident could not have made it any easier on Carroll, who says brightly that, as the father of two young children, he barely gets enough time to watch television."I just keep working hard in training and get my mind off it," Carroll says. He desperately wants to stay at the club that bought him as a raw young talent from Wigan Athletic in July 2001. There has been public encouragement over the last few months from Ferguson to sign the deal that has been offered but the issue, Carroll says, has not affected his relationship with his boss, whom he describes as "a great manager and a great man"."I'm hoping to be here next season," Carroll says.

"We are still talking and people think I have clubs all ready [to sign for] but I haven't, I'm happy to stay here at Manchester United and I want to be here beyond the end of the season. The problem is just little bits and bobs between myself and the club. So we will just see what happens there and, hopefully, it will be done before the end of the season I'm pretty confident I will be here I have never wanted to leave here. Why would you want to leave Manchester United? They are a great team and a great bunch of lads We have great young players.

I think we can do a lot in the future."It is indicative of the sense of humour that the 27-year-old has that he can poke fun at himself even as he stands on the brink of the biggest decision of his career. Rio Ferdinand, that other United contract refusenik, was booed by some supporters at the Valley on Sunday. Carroll got away without any abuse."No one has said anything to me," he said with a grin "Maybe I would rather they did say something. Rio's a big name player and a great defender and he's always going to be in the limelight."You understand supporters, it's in the papers and the fans read it and get on the players' backs But you understand it. At the end of the day Rio is a professional player and he proved on Sunday how good he is. He went to the supporters at the end of the game and clapped them and they clapped him back."It's like any job [negotiations], you want to go in there and take your time You don't want to rush it That's why I am taking my time. I said to myself I have no need to rush to sign my contract but I have always wanted to stay here.

I never wanted to move from Manchester United; I still don't. I hope it is done before then [the end of the season] but if not, [after] the end of the season. No matter what, as long as I sign it."What United are keen not to lose is a player who, despite the occasional mistake, has shown true character to re-establish himself time and time again as one of the finest all-round goalkeepers in the Premiership. On his day, Carroll has proved unbeatable, as Sparta Prague found in their Champions' League draw at home to United in October.What has proved his undoing this season was the mistake that contributed to United's Champions' League exit toMilan, when he dropped Clarence Seedorf's shot at the feet of Hernan Crespo in the first leg in February."It's hard for keepers to come back in, there's only one spot there," Carroll says. "The one mistake against Milan came after 10 [or] 15 games but that is the keeper's position and the gaffer took me out and put Tim in. And there is also the question of two high-profile errors he made during the season. Like his predecessor Barthez, Carroll does not chose to speak often, but when he does he is unfailingly honest.His future centres upon whether he will sign a new contract at United, and on that subject Carroll is unequivocal.