Michael Carrick secured a brilliant 2-0 victory against Man City in the Manchester derby on Saturday afternoon.
Michael Carrick oversaw a special win.(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Throughout Ruben Amorim's time at Old Trafford the same question was asked: Would Manchester United improve if they weren't playing with three at the back? That debate was put to bed in the Manchester derby.
Darren Fletcher reverted to a back four during his brief caretaker stint in games against Burnley and Brighton, and there were green shoots of promise, and United's superb performance against Manchester City confirmed what most suspected - the squad is better suited to a different formation.
Amorim was wedded to his formation and was sacked amid rising tensions at the club, with the friction developing between himself and Jason Wilcox.
Carrick has used a 4-2-3-1 throughout his short managerial career and it's a formation that suits the current squad down to the ground. The players looked unshackled and started well. The crowd responded, generating noise due to the front-footed approach on the pitch.
United started games far too slowly with Amorim in charge and Carrick addressed that issue. Of course, intensity is expected in the Manchester derby, but the team's shape helped United to make an improved start.
Carrick picked a striker-less front three, which felt like a risk given Benjamin Sesko's form, but City struggled to get to grips with a pacey and unpredictable attack of Patrick Dorgu, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad.
Bruno Fernandes was relocated to his strongest position. Fernandes has been the best signing of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, having thrived around the opposition box, scoring plenty of goals and contributing assists, but Amorim's system saw him play in a deeper midfield position.
Fernandes was still able to perform well in that deeper role, a testament to his quality, but you don't need coaching badges to conclude he is most effective playing closer to the opposition goal.
Carrick's formation allows Fernandes to play behind the forwards - where he is most dangerous. And he almost scored against City, being flagged offside by a whisker after finding the net in the first half.
The formation looked an upgrade in every aspect and United fans applauded their team off the pitch at the interval. Carrick would have sensed an opportunity, and he was jumping on the touchline just after the hour mark when Mbeumo fired United into the lead after a spell of pressure.
It was a ruthless United counter-attack. Fernandes carried it forward, he had the pick of each forward ahead of him, and Mbeumo struck the ball first time to finish into the bottom right corner.
It was the kind of goal that United would not have scored with Amorim in charge because his formation was rarely conducive to creating such opportunities. In truth, it rarely created any chances at all.
United had recorded eight shots, six of which were on target, with 20 minutes remaining, which represented a huge tactical victory for Carrick and his newly-appointed backroom staff.
Steve Holland is expected to be a brilliant appointment and he celebrated with Carrick when Mbeumo scored at the Sretford End. Amorim oversaw a 2-1 victory against City in December 2024, but he relied on an individual to secure the result, as Amad single-handedly turned the game on its head.
Carrick's emphatic win in the Manchester derby was different. It was a tactical success, vindication for axing a manager and hiring a coach who plays with four at the back.
Amorim's system ultimately held United back.