Michael Carrick's second stint as Manchester United manager began in spectacular fashion, as his team dominated Manchester City in a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford. The win, marked by second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, injected a much-needed dose of optimism into the club and dealt a blow to City's title aspirations.
United started the game with intensity, nearly scoring within three minutes when Harry Maguire's close-range header struck the crossbar. The Red Devils had two goals disallowed for offside in the first half, one from Amad Diallo and another from Bruno Fernandes, while City's best chance was blocked by a combination of Senne Lammens and Diogo Dalot. Despite the disallowed goals and near misses, United maintained relentless pressure.
In the second half, United's dominance finally materialized into goals. In the 65th minute, a counter-attack saw Fernandes set up Mbeumo, who calmly slotted the ball past City's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Ten minutes later, Dorgu capitalized on a cross from Matheus Cunha to extend United's lead. United could have won by a larger margin, but another goal by Mason Mount was disallowed for offside, and Amad hit the post.
City, in contrast, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, with Erling Haaland kept quiet by United's defense and eventually substituted. Goalkeeper Donnarumma made several crucial saves to prevent United from increasing their lead. City controlled the majority of possession, with 68%, but they lacked threat in the final third.
Carrick, who previously served as caretaker manager in 2021, expressed his delight with his team's performance. He praised their defensive solidity, attacking threat, and tactical execution. The victory lifted Manchester United into the Premier League's top four. The win also gives Carrick a strong start as he vies for the permanent position, especially after Ruben Amorim's departure.
The match wasn't without controversy, as Diogo Dalot escaped a red card for a challenge on Jeremy Doku after a VAR review. Overall, the derby victory was a statement win for United and a dream start to Carrick's tenure. The result leaves City with a significant challenge in the title race, potentially nine points behind Arsenal depending on their result.
