Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick has showered huge praise on Amad Diallo and another key first-team player after the Manchester City match.
Amad Diallo has been missing from Manchester United in the tail end of 2025 after he was called up for international duty with the Ivory Coast at the AFCON tournament.
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The Ivory Coast were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals at the hands of Egypt in a 3-2 loss last week and Amad made his way back to Old Trafford.
Amad’s six-match absence from the Red Devils across all competitions saw the Ivory Coast winger’s return to the club after Ruben Amorim’s sacking as United manager.
Michael Carrick was appointed interim head coach earlier this week and the United legend wasted no time turning to the 23-year-old Ivorian winger for the derby.
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Bryan Mbeumo celebrates with teammate Amad Diallo during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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Michael Carrick’s reaction to Amad Diallo and Patrick Dorgu after the Man Utd vs Man City match at Old Trafford
Amad Diallo started and completed the full 90 minutes of Manchester United’s sensational 2-0 win over Manchester City in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
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The Man Utd winger was deployed on the right side in Michael Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 formation and was a lively attacking presence in the Red Devils’ set-up.
Bruno Fernandes was deployed in the No 10 role and Patrick Dorgu played on the opposite flank to Amad, with Bryan Mbeumo deployed centrally against Man City.
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Speaking after Man Utd’s Premier League win against City, Carrick felt that Amad and Patrick Dorgu showed their true qualities both attacking-wise and defensively.
“I am not going to say too much with respect to Pep, he is such an incredible coach and it is such a good team,” he told Sky Sports.
“It is not for me to pick them apart publicly.
“We wanted to play to our strengths. The two wide lads, Amad and Dorgu, were fantastic both ways.”
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Bryan Mbeumo broke the deadlock in the second half of the Manchester derby before Patrick Dorgu slammed home the Red Devils’ second of the contest.
Man Utd walked away with all three Premier League points and Carrick kicked off his interim reign with an emphatic result in front of the United fans at Old Trafford.
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Carrick, much like with Amad and Dorgu, praised the respective impacts of Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha in Saturday afternoon’s 2-0 result.
“Mbeumo and Bruno, Cunha coming on and making the difference, Mount nearly getting the goal,” he continued.
“Everything was what we hoped for.”
Man Utd will travel to the Emirates on 25th January and the Red Devils will face Premier League leaders Arsenal in Carrick’s next outing as interim head coach.
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