Man United beat Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday, with Michael Carrick overseeing his first match as interim head coach
Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United
Lisandro Martinez has praised Michael Carrick's impact at Manchester United(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Lisandro Martinez has expressed admiration for the immediate influence Michael Carrick has had at Manchester United and his approach to assembling his coaching team. The Red Devils secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday, marking Carrick's debut in the dugout.
Carrick was named as United's interim head coach until end of the season, following Ruben Amorim's departure earlier this month and Darren Fletcher's short stint in charge.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu clinched the three points for United, with Carrick's squad outplaying their rivals on the Old Trafford pitch during the Manchester derby.
The match marked Mbeumo's first game for United since returning from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, with Amad Diallo also rejoining the squad.
The triumph over City propelled United into fifth place in the Premier League standings, now just a single point behind fourth-placed Liverpool following their draw with Burnley, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Martinez played the entire 90 minutes for United, contributing to the Reds' clean sheet against City, who fielded Erling Haaland and January signing Antoine Semenyo in their starting eleven.
Following the win over City, Martinez lauded the impact Carrick has made, despite only being appointed on Wednesday, a mere three days prior to United's showdown in the Manchester derby.
"Three days, unbelievable," Martinez said in an interview with Stadium Astro.
"First of all, play with the ball, don't be scared of the ball, having composure with the ball, play with confidence.
"We had to defend with our lives and when we play we had to play with confidence and I think we did it.
Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick guided Manchester United to a 2-0 win over Manchester City(Image: Copa/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
"Three goals, with a minimal offside, I think we deserved this win. But what [Michael] Carrick did with his staff was unbelievable, especially in a short time, that's why I’m impressed about that."
United's next fixture will see them face Premier League leaders Arsenal next weekend, after the Gunners were held to a goalless stalemate with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Several names have already emerged as potential permanent appointments for United's managerial position, including Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and former England manager Gareth Southgate.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us, and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Content Image
Content Image