Prior to last night's away win over FC Porto, it had been five games since United last kept a clean sheet, part of a run that has seen their Premier League title credentials called into question and their Champions League defence look distinctly shaky.

Any doubts over United's ability to stay the course were swept away at the Estadio do Dragao as Sir Alex Ferguson's men became the first English team to beat Porto on their own soil and book a semi-final meeting with Arsenal.

Carrick is now confident the late-season blip has been consigned to history and the Red Devils can refocus on their quest for an unprecedented quintuple.

"When you have a couple of bad results people start questioning you," said the England midfielder.

"But we have always known what we are capable of and last night we got back to what we do best.

"We defended well as a team and looked really solid.

"All of a sudden everything looks great again."

The former Tottenham player understands the picture can change dramatically depending on how individual results go.

A meeting with Everton in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley offers its own challenge, although for now the talk is of Arsenal and a renewal of the rivalry between Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

Carrick knows the two-legged showdown, the first in United's history against another English club, will be an eagerly-anticipated affair.

"Obviously we know each other inside out," said Carrick.

"Sometimes in those circumstances, you can have quite a cagey affair, on other occasions it can open right up, as it did at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

"I am sure they will be great matches for the neutral to watch but hopefully we will come out on top."

Carrick was full of praise for Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning matchwinner, although having seen his team-mate do something similar so often in training, it was hardly a surprise.

Ronaldo's strike sealed victory in a season which is now just two successful semi-finals away from seeing them play in every single game possible.

It is part of a campaign from which they have secured the Carling Cup and Club World Cup, with the promise of more to come in the weeks that lie ahead.

"It is relentless," admitted Carrick.

"We are on course to play the most number of games we could possibly play in one season. That is the aim.

"There is a game every three or four days now and they are all going to mean so much.

"That is what you want. It is great to be part of it. We are in a good position. Fingers crossed we will succeed."

Carrick is wary of an in-form Everton side ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash, with the likely absence of former United striker Louis Saha hardly making a dent in their confidence given the number of times they have won matches with no forwards at all this term.

"It will be a tough game," said Carrick.

"Everton have improved an awful lot as the season has gone on.

"They have had injuries, especially at centre-forward, and proved they can cope."