The message from the head coach was the same again ahead of the visit of wobbling Leeds United.
Leeds head for the Riverside in desperate need of a boost after a run of just one win in their last six games, a sequence that saw them fall out of the Championship’s two at the weekend.
On the back of last season’s play-off final defeat and with just six games to play, the pressure is very much on Daniel Farke’s side.
But Carrick insists playing on any Leeds anxiety isn’t in his thinking.
“Not really. Our focus is always about us,” he said.
“What’s going on at another club, I had a similar question ahead of Blackburn and it’s not something we focus on. Honestly, it doesn’t change anything for us.
“Of course, we focus on getting ahead in a game and making a fast start to give ourselves the best opportunity to try and win the game. Every team hopes for a fast start, and it’s always important if you can get it. But any of the other stuff, that’s not for us. We need to focus on ourselves.”
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Carrick has studied Leeds at length in preparation for tonight’s game, so has he noticed any major differences between the side that were threatening to storm away with the title a couple of months ago and the side that has stuttered in recent weeks?
He said: “Not really. Very similar to ourselves, it doesn’t take an awful lot.
“The Luton game is a tough, tough place to go, as we found out very recently. It’s very different when you go there, especially at this time of year. I’m not looking too much into it. We know what they’re capable of and have had good games against us. I’m not looking at recent form to take much from.
“It’s similar to ourselves. The league is a difficult league and you can have results that don’t go your way.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean there is an awful lot wrong, it’s just fine margins at times in this league.
“Sometimes it can just go against the grain, and that’s how it is. We’re fully expecting their best version.
“We know what they’re capable of and have played against them enough over the past couple of seasons to know that.
They’ve accumulated enough points over the last two seasons – a really credible amount – to know what they’re about.
“They’ve got top players for this division and we know it will be a big challenge, but a great challenge as well. We’ll have to be ready for that. But we back ourselves and go in looking forward to it and trying to win.”
On the back of five wins in seven games, momentum is building on Teesside and with it belief. And Carrick is relishing tonight’s game and what promises to be a red hot atmosphere.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to the boys hopefully playing well.
“If we do that, I think we’ve got a good chance. They’re a good team and it’s got all the ingredients to be a good game of football.
“There’s a lot at stake for both teams, we’ve both got our own agendas, and supporters of both sides will be up for it. All round, it makes for a really good night. We’re trying to come out on top, and that’s the challenge.
“We’ve had some really good days and nights in recent weeks. Good results and nice moments that we’ve all been able to enjoy.
“It’s going to take a big effort from everyone to pull together and get the result that we want.”
