Michael Carrick enjoyed a dream start to his tenure as Manchester United head coach as the Red Devils produced a commanding performance to beat title-chasing Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed a morale-boosting derby victory in the 198th competitive meeting between the crosstown rivals, dealing a significant blow to City’s Premier League title hopes and lifting the mood around United after a turbulent fortnight.
Carrick, appointed earlier this week until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim’s acrimonious exit, oversaw an immediate upturn in performance.
Red Devils, who began the day seventh in the table, outplayed Pep Guardiola’s side from start to finish and could have won by a wider margin but for Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics, the woodwork, and three goals ruled out for offside.
United intensity sets the tone
The atmosphere inside a reinvigorated Old Trafford was electric from kickoff, and Carrick’s demand for energy and aggression was evident early on.
Harry Maguire, restored to the starting lineup as one of five changes, nearly opened the scoring inside three minutes with a thumping header that crashed against the crossbar.
United’s intensity unsettled City, though it nearly backfired in the 10th minute when Diogo Dalot caught Jérémy Doku with a high challenge.
Referee Anthony Taylor issued only a yellow card, with VAR ruling the contact “glancing and not with excessive force,” a decision that left Guardiola furious but allowed United to maintain their momentum.
Despite City dominating possession, it was United who looked more dangerous.
Dorgu forced Donnarumma into a sharp save, while Amad Diallo rounded the goalkeeper and finished, only for the effort to be ruled offside.
Bruno Fernandes also had a goal chalked off as United responded strongly to a brief City spell that included Senne Lammens redeeming himself after a mistake by denying Max Alleyne from a corner.
Midfield dominance tells
Carrick’s most significant early impact came in midfield. Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo dominated the central areas, disrupting City’s rhythm and outworking Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.
It was a rare sight in a Manchester derby and underlined City’s growing struggles to impose themselves in big matches.
Foden was withdrawn at halftime as City continued to struggle, while United pressed relentlessly.
Diallo tormented substitute Nico O’Reilly and again tested Donnarumma, who then produced a stunning save to deny Casemiro from the rebound.
Goals reward United pressure
The breakthrough arrived in the 65th minute after a swift counterattack.
Maguire headed clear a City free kick and Mbeumo pounced to steal possession before Fernandes surged through midfield and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the forward.
Fresh back from Africa Cup of Nations duty, Mbeumo coolly fired across Donnarumma to send Old Trafford into raptures.
United continued to push, with Diallo flashing a shot across the face of goal before Mbeumo departed to a standing ovation.
His replacement, Matheus Cunha, made an immediate impact, delivering a teasing cross from the right that Dorgu met ahead of Rico Lewis to double United’s lead in the 76th minute.
City’s frustration was summed up by the reaction when Erling Haaland was substituted late on, drawing one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon.
The Norwegian striker endured another quiet display, managing little against Maguire and Lisandro Martínez, as his lean run continued.
United might have added further gloss as Diallo struck the post and Mason Mount saw a stoppage-time goal ruled out for offside, but the final whistle confirmed a thoroughly deserved victory.
Big boost for Carrick, big setback for City
The result marked United’s first league win since Boxing Day and capped a perfect beginning for Carrick, who was serenaded by supporters in the Stretford End after full time.
It also revived United’s hopes of pushing for a UEFA Champions League place ahead of a daunting trip to Arsenal next weekend.
For City, the defeat leaves Guardiola’s side without a league win in four matches and seriously dents their title bid.
With Arsenal holding the initiative at the top of the table, City’s fading midfield dominance and lack of cutting edge were again laid bare.
On a day when United rediscovered their aggression, structure and belief, Carrick could scarcely have asked for a stronger opening statement.
