Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said Michael Carrick is “doing a very good job” at Manchester United as both clubs prepare for an electrifying derby this weekend.
Erling Haaland will lead the line for Manchester City against Manchester United on Sunday.
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Carrick first stepped up as United’s caretaker manager following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021, when he took charge of games against Villarreal, Chelsea and Arsenal.
The former United midfielder, who appeared 464 times for the club during his playing career, moved on and transformed EFL Championship side Middlesbrough, producing the club’s best start since 1994 and turning them into an irrepressible scoring force in his first season at the club in the 2022/23 season.
However, the 45-year-old returned to Old Trafford earlier this year as interim boss following Ruben Amorim's sacking and earned a permanent contract after yielding a run of 11 wins from 16 games while securing a top-three Premier League finish.
Maresca Praises Carrick’s Old Trafford Turnaround Ahead of Derby
Maresca will be looking to secure his side’s first derby win in 12 months after United beat the Citizens 2-0 in January, courtesy of second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu.
That game highlighted the immediate impact that Carrick made during his United return, and Maresca revealed that he believes his counterpart is doing an excellent job at the club just days before the all-important derby.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has issued an update on his side's fitness ahead of Sunday's trip to face Manchester United.cityxtra.co.ukEnzo Maresca Press Conference: O'Reilly and Doku Fitness Updates Ahead of Man United
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has issued an update on his side's fitness ahead of Sunday's trip to face Manchester United.
“I think he’s doing a fantastic job since last season," the City manager said on Carrick in a press conference on Friday morning. "He took over in a complicated situation and finished very well and this season, [he’s] starting in the same way, more or less. He’s doing a very good job."
Unlike Carrick, this will be Maresca’s first Manchester derby where he is in the driver's seat, though as Pep Guardiola’s assistant in the 2022/23 Treble season, the Italian helped beat United 6-3 in the Premier League and 2-1 in the FA Cup final on their way to unprecedented success.
Who Will Start in Maresca’s First Manchester Derby as Man City Manager?
After spending over £440 million in the summer, Maresca has plenty of options when it comes to his starting line-up at Old Trafford on Sunday.
There have been frequent questions circulating online as to whether the midfield trio of Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi should all start next to one another, while the pick between Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden has inevitably grabbed attention.
One thing is almost guaranteed, and it’s that Erling Haaland will likely lead the line after scoring twice against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, which took him to third on the all-time scoring list at City, behind only Eric Brook on 177 and Sergio Agüero on 260.
Another summer signing, Iliman Ndiaye, may start on the bench, but his quick feet and unstoppable dribbling ability could cause United problems as the game nears its conclusion.