Michael Carrick’s stunning impact as interim manager may have plunged Manchester United’s powerbrokers into an immediate dilemma over their long-term direction.
But in just 90+ minutes of joyous action against Manchester City, it’s given Jim Radcliffe and his football management team a tantalising glimpse of what might be possible if United can finally get it right on the pitch.
The feel-good factor that engulfed the red half of Manchester after their astonishing demolition of a City team who couldn’t have complained if it had been 6-0, should be a watershed moment.
If nothing else it should be a line in the sand that says the club cannot go back to the darkest days under Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag.
For if United’s players can perform with such speed, power, potency and desire against City, why cannot that be a minimum standard, or certainly something close to it.
Of course, Carrick’s a long way from getting the job permanently.
And United’s suits will want to scrutinise how his team performs against West Ham and Everton away next month, every bit as much as they’ll be interested to see how they deal with an imperious Arsenal at the Emirates this weekend.
But if he can inspire that kind of devastating display from players who have often let themselves down in recent times, Carrick may not be such a fanciful full-time appointment.
Thomas Tuchel, Luis Enrique, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto De Zerbi are a few of the “bigger names” mentioned as United plot a way forward.
But if United need any pointers then just look at Mikel Arteta, who will face Carrick across the dugout in North London on Sunday.
Arteta hadn’t been in solo management until he took over Arsenal just over six years ago.
Okay, he cut his teeth with arguably the best mentor around working as an assistant under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for three years, banking priceless football knowledge in the process.
Carrick, though, has equally good experience managing Middlesbrough in the Championship for three seasons with a respectable win rate of 46.32%.
The former United, Tottenham, West Ham and England star couldn’t manage to catapult Boro into the Premier League but he gained respect for his time at the club.
Now the stakes are much higher, but maybe all Carrick needs from Radcliffe and his cohorts is the one commodity Arteta was afforded by his Arsenal bosses - patience.
There were plenty of moments when Arsenal could have sacked Arteta - notably when the club finished eighth in the Premier League in his first full season in charge after guiding them to the same position and an FA Cup triumph in half a season the previous year.
Despite successive second-place finishes in the last three seasons, Arteta has unfairly been targeted as a manager who couldn’t get the club over the line to be champions.
And when they fell to eventual Champions League winners PSG in the semi-finals last season there were more calls for his head.
Yet look at them now as they trailblaze at home and in the Champions League.
Arsenal’s history with Arteta is almost a throwback to the early Alex Ferguson years at United.
And that’s why Carrick will be hoping if he steadies the ship, builds on an eye-catching derby win and leads United back into Europe, if not the Champions League, then the job can be his.
For let’s face it, United’s bosses have tried everything else and it’s not worked.
From headline names like Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal to experiments like Ten Hag and Amorim, it’s ended badly every time.
The flirtation with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought moments which saw a bigger and better connection with United’s fanbase but still it was doomed.
It’s been mentioned that bringing in former Chelsea and England coach Steve Holland - No.2 to Gareth Southgate - as his assistant was an important move by Carrick.
Holland has vast experience and his arrival at Old Trafford and partnership with Carrick could be a game-changer, even if conspiracy theorists say it’s merely paving the way for Southgate’s appointment as permanent boss.
Die-hard United fans have travelled this road before but could it be about to finally change, on the pitch at least?
Amad Diallo is Tailor-Made for Man Utd
Amad Diallo in action for Manchester United
Amad Diallo’s vibrant display against Manchester City showed just what United have been missing while the Ivory Coast star was away at AFCON with his countrymen.
Quick, direct and hugely effective, Amad looks tailor-made for United in every way.
While some players struggle to deal with representing United, Amad positively embraces the pressure and responsibility.
And that’s proof that United got one major area right with the former Atalanta star - his development from boy to man.
Right from the start United’s strategy for Amad was impressively executed. And that could be why he’s comfortable in a United shirt.
Sending him on loan to Glasgow Rangers, aged just 19, and then Sunderland was a smart move.
Two big clubs with large,passionate followings and high expectations prepared Amad for life at United.
And since becoming a regular he’s thrived. United have been hammered for making plenty of wrong decisions - but with Amad they got it spot on.
Carrick Not Afraid to Make Major Decisions
Manchester United first team coach Michael Carrick looks on
If anyone is looking for signs that Michael Carrick has the right pedigree to manage United, just ask Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha.
Not many interim managers would be brave enough to leave strikers worth £136 million on the bench for his first game in charge but Carrick made the call by leaving Cunha and Sesko on the bench against City.
If it proves just one thing about Carrick, it’s that winning is more important than appeasing big names.
Cunha came on as a second half substitute and created havoc as United overpowered City while Sesko sat out the game on the bench despite scoring three goals in the previous two games.
It was a big decision by Carrick that could have backfired. It didn’t because United executed a flawless game plan against Pep Guardiola’s team.
As United head to Arsenal, Sir Jim Ratcliffe must already be seriously impressed with Carrick who showed good judgement, faith in his team selection and the kind of bold decision-making that made Sir Alex Ferguson an iconic United manager.
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