Let’s soak it up and enjoy the moment… that was special!
Oh it has been a frustrating few weeks. Manchester United’s last win came almost a month ago, on Boxing Day against Newcastle.
And the last win before that was a 4-1 win away at Wolves. Wins are far too infrequent at this football club, when they should be routine.
Manchester Derby wins are also worryingly scarce. Manchester United had not scored a home goal against City since January 2023.
That win was memorable, a 2-1 victory with a Marcus Rashford winner. But it was a come-from-behind smash and grab. Nothing like the game United fans were treated to in 2026.
Now this game under Michael Carrick was truly special. This was pure dominance from start to finish.
WHO was your man of the match for Manchester United vs City?
Let us know who you picked…
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The scoreline read 2-0 thanks to goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, but we all know it should have been far, far, more.
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United had three goals harshly disallowed for offside, while Harry Maguire hit the bar from close range and lost amid the chaos towards the end, Amad hit the post after a slalom run.
Gianluigi Donnarumma made five saves to spare City’s blushes, and also cut out a couple of scoring chances by coming off his line quickly.
It really should have been 6-0. Perhaps more. This was a one-sided game where United took three points, and recaptured our hearts.
Harry Maguire celebrates
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I loved it, let’s savour it
I just want to enjoy the moment of this Manchester United win and not look too far ahead in terms of what might or might not come next.
Michael Carrick only has 16 games left as United manager, and if we play like we did here, Champions League qualification will fall into place.
But it’s not really about the league placing, that’s an afterthought. There was a sense that Manchester United regained their identity with that performance, led by a United legend in Michael Carrick.
There has been a lot of soul-searching from inside the fanbase and even some mocking from outside when the discussion has recently turned to Manchester United DNA.
This was something that was lacking under Ruben Amorim’s plodding approach with his odd formation.
Michael Carrick and his staff tapped into something special, combining a refreshed tactical approach with a genuine fighting spirit and aggression that City could not live with.
Will it be like this every week? Realistically, probably not. The atmosphere for home games against Fulham and Palace next month for instance, is unlikely to stir the same type of emotions as a derby can.
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?
Carrick graphic
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And realistically we know that Carrick’s players do not have the capability to win all the next 16 games.
But this match, it was magical. It was a barometer of what Manchester United are capable of. A measuring stick of what happens when crowd and players are perfectly in sync, pushing towards the same outcome.
That type of aggressive, fast, attacking football was what Manchester United is all about. The two rapid counter-attacking goals were reminiscent of the Sir Alex Ferguson led teams that Michael Carrick played in.
There is a whole week until the next game, and I will be rewatching the City match over and over again.
We have seen many false dawns over the years. Carrick is not promising anything, he is simply here to do a job, and he is challenging his players to repeat their success.
Enjoy the weekend. These type of perfect results do not come along very often.
Man Utd have BEATEN City 2-0! What is your INSTANT REACTION to the start of the Michael Carrick era?
What did Michael Carrick get right?
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Every player rated
Our official player ratings are here, and I’m not rating them with a mark out of 10. As far as I am concerned every player was a 10.
Instead I am just going to give a few thoughts on how every player played.
Senne Lammens: Totally deserving of his clean sheet, Senne Lammens stepped up when he needed to, and showed his Peter Schmeichel-esque qualities. It was fantastic to see him claim a corner and instantly spark an attack with a throw upfield.
Diogo Dalot: OK he wasn’t quite a 10. He was lucky to escape a red card and his passing was a little off. But on a day like this, he got away with it, and we can be pleased that Noussair Mazraoui will be back by the end of the month.
Harry Maguire: Oh Harry, how did you miss that chance? Maguire made up for it by bullying Bernardo Silva by the hoardings, and putting his body on the line to stop Erling Haaland. This might have been one of his best ever performances for the club. If that was his last derby, what a way to leave a mark.
Lisandro Martinez silenced the critics to dominate Erling Haaland AGAIN
What did you think of his performance?
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Lisandro Martinez: Unlike his display against Brighton, this was one of Martinez’s most disciplined defensive performances we have seen since his return. He made a mockery of Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt’s factually incorrect criticism. He has kept a clean sheet in six out of seven games against Erling Haaland.
Luke Shaw: That might have been the most aggressive I have seen Luke Shaw in some of his actions since he signed for the club in 2014. He looked in complete command of everything he did, and played a key role in United’s clean sheet.
Casemiro: Let’s get it right, Casemiro should have scored from close range to put United 1-0 up, no excuses there. Aside from his close-range miss, the Brazilian was a class act. Just like Harry Maguire, it is going to be hard to wave goodbye on a free transfer at the end of the season, if he keeps on playing like this.
How would YOU rate Kobbie Mainoo’s performance vs City out of 10?
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Kobbie Mainoo: Ruben Amorim has got a lot to answer for. This is the Kobbie Mainoo we know, the player who dominated City in the FA Cup Final in 2024. How can you keep this player on the bench all season? This is a player who needs to be cherished.
Amad: The statistics show that Amad created only one chance – and that’s why you need to watch the game with your eyes. The Ivorian was at the heart of almost everything that United did. His movement was terrific, he had the ball in the net once and hit the post late. We have missed him!
Patrick Dorgu: Is this really the same player that Ruben Amorim said gave him anxiety whenever he got the ball? Patrick Dorgu is a major talent. He needs patience, and it must be remembered he is only 21. We have something with this kid. He needs to be moulded into a great player, and days like this show that he is way ahead of schedule.
Bruno Fernandes: Is there really anybody out there who believes United are a better team without Bruno Fernandes? If so, hang your head in shame. Fernandes was simply outstanding, and this was one of his best performances of the season. Let’s keep him forever, OK.
Bruno Fernandes cut City apart – now he needs to do it against Arsenal next weekend!
He was extremely unlucky to have a goal ruled out of his own
Fernandes
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Bryan Mbeumo: A perfectly timed return. Bryan Mbeumo cost £65 million and looks like a bargain with every performance. Not many Manchester United players have been able to do that after arriving for big money fees. He was dangerous and clinical when it mattered, and despite his break, he is on track to finish the season as United’s top goalscorer.
Matheus Cunha: He packed more into that substitute performance than he did into the previous two games. Cunha defended with vigour, and attacked like he was born to play in Michael Carrick’s system. He will be just fine if he carries on like this.
Mason Mount: It’s been mostly bad luck for Mason Mount since he signed for United, and while this was a fantastic win, United’s number 7 will feel like he was robbed of his late goal through that narrow offside call.
Manuel Ugarte: He came on and did not mess it up. We can’t ask for more than that. Let’s be fair, the Uruguayan has shown signs of some improvement in recent weeks.
Ayden Heaven: Only on for a couple of minutes plus stoppage time, Heaven faces real competition to get back into this team. A great experience for him to play in a derby.
Rayan Cherki’s ‘revenge game’ was a disaster for him!
Keep waiting Rayan…
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