Manchester United rolled back the clock with a memorable performance against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
With only three days to prepare, Michael Carrick helped Manchester United produce a game plan that tore rivals City apart at the weekend.
It was a result to savour, without getting too caught up in what it will mean later down the line. There are 16 more games this season to build a true picture of the Carrick era, rather than jumping to overreactions after 90 minutes.
All we can do at this stage is look at what did go right, and celebrate the exciting attacking football we witnessed at Old Trafford in the 2-0 beatdown.
Bryan Mbeumo scores for United
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Both goals were excellent, but the enduring image from the Manchester Derby will be the way four players sprinted forward to lead a rapid counter-attack for Bryan Mbeumo’s opener.
The quartet swamped City’s defence, with Bruno Fernandes’ perfectly executed pass setting the forward up for a one-time finish.
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Where does the Michael Carrick-led demolition of City rank for you?
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Manchester United’s identity
Sir Alex Ferguson was looking down from the stands with pride at seeing the way the Manchester United of 2026 unexpectedly became the force of old.
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It may just have been for one day, but it was a sight to behold, and a former coach has explained how the Red Devils embraced the club’s much-talked about DNA.
Paul McGuinness is the son of former United manager Wilf Guinness, and after a brief playing career, he spent almost three decades working as a coach for United.
He wrote on X how Carrick’s United displayed traits that academy legend Eric Harrison demanded from the ‘Class of 92‘.
McGuinness said: “ManUtd counter attack goal reminded me of my mentor & ‘Class of 92’ coach Eric Harrison who used to say United teams should attack like the “RED ARROWS” lightning speed, instant support, interchanging runs, precision passing & finishing leaving the opposition in their wake.”
This was an apt way to describe Manchester United’s opener, and the message neatly shows how the instructions of the past can still have an impact in the modern game.
The fans lapped up the incredible football that was on display, spotting the throwback to yesteryear. It was the style of football as much as the result that had Old Trafford rocking.
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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Michael Carrick will need to prove adaptable
City did not know how Manchester United would set up, and this is one advantage that the Red Devils had ahead of the City game.
Arsenal will have 90 impressive minutes to study ahead of next weekend’s game, and they will be wary of Manchester United’s threat.
It is likely that they will try to combat it by defending deeper, and Carrick and his coaching staff will have to work out different ways to spring a surprise.
Following matches against Fulham and Tottenham will create their own type of challenges, and the good news is that United have home advantage.
If Carrick’s team can find a way to get the crowd as excited as they were against City for those games, then we are on the right track.
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