Manchester United produced a brilliant performance in Michael Carrick's first game in charge as they beat Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick celebrates with Matheus Cunha
Michael Carrick liked what he saw from his United players before the game(Image: )
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Michael Carrick had confidence Manchester United were going to deliver a performance on derby day at Old Trafford when he saw the emotional state of his squad as they lined up in the tunnel. United produced their best performance in a long time to beat Pep Guardiola's side 2-0 on a day when they also had three goals ruled out for marginal offside calls.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu handed Carrick a win on his return to the dugout at Old Trafford. A performance full of attacking intent was the perfect antidote to recent weeks and Carrick praised his coaching staff of Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion for getting the message across, and the players for taking it on board so quickly.
"The players left the changing room unbelievably desperate to do well," said Carrick. "I was thinking, don't be too desperate where it can cloud your judgment and you make decisions that you make because you're emotionally so invested in it.
"I thought they got the balance so right and the supporters were incredible. I said yesterday this can be a magical place, and it does some funny things, and today to get that feeling is exactly what we want. Hopefully, just to start something we need to build on. We're not getting carried away massively, but you've got to enjoy the feeling certainly when you get it."
United created an xG of 3.8 against City in what was a one-sided derby and Amad, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount all saw goals ruled out.
It was a remarkable coaching achievement on the back of three sessions at Carrington and Carrick was delighted to see the squad buy into those ideas.
"I just think the boys have shown me that they're really willing to listen and learn, as I said, [they're] almost desperate," he said.
"They want it so much and the willingness to take the information on and change things a little bit and be willing to adapt. We obviously put a game plan and a strategy together that tried to achieve certain things and everyone played their part in the end.
"Before the game, I spoke with the coaches, and we said the boys were in a good place. We were quite happy with the days we prepared for it. Emotionally, where the boys were, I was quite happy with that leading into the game, but then City are an unbelievable team with talent and they can rotate and change things, so there's a plan and then you've got to go plan B and C and work around it.
"So you never really know how the game is going to go, but for it to pan out like that, the boys were fantastic to the heart, I say, in so many ways. And to manage it emotionally with the information we've given them and pulling it together, yeah, it was pretty good."