Manchester United turned a heavy page on Saturday afternoon, giving Manchester City a hiding in the Premier League to start Michael Carrick's interim stint off in dream fashion.
It was a fantastic display, and Pep Guardiola and his title-chasing side were left beleaguered after being blown away at Old Trafford, with Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu grabbing the goals to return to winning ways in the top flight.
Having been dumped from the FA Cup against Brighton last time out, this was a much-needed result and performance for the Red Devils, and it's no surprise that such a controlled and energetic result coincided with Kobbie Mainoo's return to the starting line-up in the Premier League.
How Mainoo played vs Man City
Mainoo started in the Premier League for the first time since April, and he reminded Old Trafford why he was so highly-rated when he burst onto the scene.
Man United vs Man City
Ruben Amorim would have had his reasons, but honestly, what was he thinking? This is clearly an elite midfielder in the making, and he showed that potential in the derby.
Strong in defence, confident and enterprising on the ball, assured in his decision-making, Mainoo has played himself back into the reckoning for his boyhood club, providing United with the robust midfield presence they have so dearly missed.
Kobbie Mainoo in the Premier League
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches*
Pass completion
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels won*
Stats via Sofascore
Even last season, at a low ebb under Amorim's management, the Carrington graduate showcased his combative and technically gifted style of play.
Returning to the starting line-up, he shone, resurgent along with his team. He wasn't the only one, though, with another United star looking like a man reborn as he moved back into a more natural role in Carrick's system.
Man Utd's "best player" makes Amorim look silly
Ask a supporter of a Manchester United persuasion who their best player is, and more often than not, the answer would be Bruno Fernandes.
It is remarkable that the skipper has continued to be the talisman over the past year, having been deployed in a deep midfield berth to accommodate Amorim's system.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes
But Carrick scratched all that and placed the 31-year-old back in his comfortable number ten spot. Unfortunate not to have scored after a close offside call, Fernandes still shone, creating six chances, winning five duels, making six ball recoveries and, of course, claiming the assist for Mbeumo's opening goal.
Reporter Samuel Luckhurst also singled out the Iberian maestro's "Beckham-like" passing, so intuitive and aware of those around him as he found Dorgu with a brilliant cutback.
Time and time again, this special player rewrites the record books in a Man United shirt. Utterly magnificent as the playmaker-in-chief against Guardiola, the Manchester Evening News awarded the captain an 8/10 match score - and in truth, it could have been higher.
Now that he's back in his favoured role (and with a young star in Mainoo behind him, desperate to make a mark of his own), Fernandes could return to his best.
It's not going to be a trophy-winning season for the Old Trafford club, but there's no question that the foundation for future success can be paved over the coming months, with Fernandes, who Luckhurst also called "the best player on the pitch", leading from the heart of Carrick's system.
Diogo Dalot was fortunate to have avoided a red card for that lunging challenge on Jeremy Doku in the first half, but the visitors can have few complaints after being put to the sword at the Theatre of Dreams.
Funny that the likes of Fernandes and Mainoo should shine in their best-suited roles. More of the same could lead to a period of success unlike anything this great club has seen in recent years.
Man-Utd-Man-City-Semenyo Related
[Worth more than Semenyo: Man Utd's "monster" will be perfect for Carrick](https://www.footballfancast.com/worth-more-than-semenyo-man-utds-sesko-will-be-perfect-for-carrick/ "Worth more than Semenyo: Man Utd's "monster" will be perfect for Carrick")
Manchester United face up against Antoine Semenyo in the derby, in Michael Carrick's first test.