Manchester United tore Manchester City to shreds on Saturday with a lightning-quick attacking display that Pep Guardiola’s side could not cope with.
Michael Carrick couldn’t help but get caught up in the celebrations at Old Trafford on Saturday, watching his Manchester United side beat City.
It was a day in which the struggles of the past 14 months lifted away, as United secured a comfortable 2-0 win over City, restoring the Champions League qualification race.
Carrick was grinning ear to ear on the touchline, while Pep Guardiola was left in disbelief in the away dugout, clearly shocked by the manner in which United tore his team apart and also neutralised his attack.
United legend Peter Schmeichel was also impressed.
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After weeks of stagnant football under Ruben Amorim, the Carrick era started off in the best possible way with a style that was straight from Sir Alex Ferguson’s playbook.
The performance oozed United DNA, which Carrick will now hope to replicate over the remaining 16 games this season.
Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu celebrate goal for Manchester United.
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
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Speaking on Premier League Productions after the game, Schmeichel was full of praise for United’s performance, particularly the attack.
“There was there was no restraint. Go forward. And we saw that in the first goal you had, you know, it’s a defending, it’s a free kick that Harry heads it out, and all of a sudden they’re four against two.
“That’s not something I’ve seen for a very, very long time with Manchester United. But that is what Manchester United is historically always has been able to do.
“You know, as soon as the ball is won, you go forward and you don’t think about what’s going to happen behind you. That I think is something they’ve been talking to them about a lot that when you get that opportunity and it was fantastic.”
Michael Carrick is off to the PERFECT START at Man Utd, and he wants more!
Why do you think it went SO RIGHT for Carrick against City?
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United will face a different challenge against Arsenal
Carrick’s game plan to hit City on the break often and quickly worked a treat, with the visitors completely caught off guard.
However, Mikel Arteta will have been watching intensely as United beat City, and will probably adapt his Arsenal side to play against the dangerous-looking Red Devils.
Arsenal will probably set up defensively, letting United have the ball in hopes of counter-attacking, almost in reverse of what the Manchester derby looked like.
However, Carrick’s ideal game would be to have the ball as he leaned toward possession-heavy at Middlesbrough, so Arteta might even play into United’s hands.
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