Manchester United put rivals Manchester City to the sword on Saturday afternoon in what was Michael Carrick's first game in charge since 2021
Head Coach Michael Carrick of Manchester United
Michael Carrick has made a telling decision at Manchester United(Image: Getty)
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Michael Carrick got off to the perfect start as Manchester United manager as he watched his side beat Manchester City 2-0. After just 14 months at the helm, Ruben Amorim was given the boot at Old Trafford and former player Carrick has been installed until the end of the season, when a permanent replacement will be sought.
In his first match in charge during this stint, having also taken the reins as caretaker boss in 2021, he pulled off a stunning 2-0 win. One player who started the clash was Harry Maguire. The England ace, who cost the club £80million when he arrived from Leicester City in 2019, had fallen out of favour under Amorim.
Michael Carrick makes Harry Maguire call
In the victory against City, Maguire played admirably at the back and this vote of confidence from new manager Carrick indicates that he is set to be part of the 44-year-old's plans in Manchester.
According to The Sun, Inter Milan have registered interest in taking Maguire off United's hands in January, with his deal set to expire in a matter of months.
Harry Maguire of Manchester United celebrates victory following the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield
Maguire looks set to stay at United this window(Image: Getty)
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But by starting him against City, Carrick indicated that he wishes for Maguire to stay put this window, with reports stating that the new boss is adamant he will remain until the season ends.
Carrick's No. 2, Steve Holland, is said to hold Magurie in high regard from his time with England and Carrick wants the club to reject any offers that come in for the defender this window.
Joshua Zirkzee claim
Another star who Amorim scarcely played was forward Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman was the first signing of the INEOS era and cost around £37m, but with the Portuguese boss at the helm, he found minutes hard to come by.
When the January transfer window opened, reports suggested that Zirkzee would almost certainly leave Old Trafford this month. But such proposals were called off as Italian side Roma circled.
Now, Zirkzee's compatriot Ruud Gullit has urged the 24-year-old to force through a move as he continues to warm the bench in Manchester.
Joshua Zirkzee pictured
Zirkzee has been urged to move on(Image: Getty)
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"I saw that Roma maybe wanted to take him and I hope that he will leave," Gullit told Metro. "For me, there was always a doubt that it was the right decision to go to Manchester United. I think he should have stayed in Serie A.
"He was doing well with Bologna and I think he should have gone to a better team in Italy. For him it would have been much better. Manchester United have to figure out what that vibe is there, because something is wrong there. The energy is not good, it doesn't feel good at all.
"Look at Scott McTominay. It is unbelievable how well McTominay has done since he left Old Trafford. It's incredible, it's fantastic to watch. At United he was more like a 12th man, than he was a player and look how he has flourished, just playing every game is so important."
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