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Carrick’s United Crush City in Derby Day Victory

Michael Carrick’s second stint as interim manager of Manchester United got off to a dream start as his side bulldozed through Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to win the Manchester derby 2-0.

Not a bad first game in charge 👌🔴 pic.twitter.com/H1l1vvGvPc
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 17, 2026

Goals from a returning Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu gave United the three points, but it could have been a source of genuine embarrassment for City had the three offside goals they conceded been allowed to stand.

Gianluigi Donnarumma had a fantastic first 60 minutes where he stopped multiple certain goals from entering the City net. He was finally beaten by Mbeumo’s shot in the 65th minute.

Mason Mount thought he had added the final flourish deep into stoppage time, firing home in the 92nd minute, only for celebrations to be cut short when VAR determined that Matheus Cunha was marginally offside in the build-up.

Joe Ryan dissects Derby Day.

One of the greatest derby win I’ve seen in my short lifetime.

Old Trafford was bouncing, players were fantastic, what a match.

Shame that three of our five goals were offside, could have embarrassed them today.

Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City#MUFC #ManchesterDerby
— Joe Ryan (@JoeRyan1203) January 17, 2026

Carrick’s Immediate United Imprint

Silky, sumptuous, scintillating football.

Michael Carrick only began to work with the Manchester United squad on Wednesday, yet this team performed to an exceptionally high standard, which was rarely seen during 2025.

Every player looked fresh, hungry, and raring to go.

A back four consisting of Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot rarely put a foot wrong, and allowed goalkeeper Senne Lammens to pick up just his third clean sheet of his United career.

In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro returned to their long-forgotten partnership as both flourished on the pitch, whilst an attacking quartet of Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes, Amad, and lone striker Bryan Mbeumo pushed the City defence to its limit.

Multiple times throughout the match, Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes and Amad linked up to form perfect triangles on either sideline of the pitch, dancing around the City midfield with ease before powering through their defence.

Those patterns were more indicative of the opposition boss’s former Barcelona side than a Manchester United side that tumbled to 15th in the Premier League last season.

The first half was a nervy affair—for both sides—but particularly for the inexperienced backline pairing of Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne, who struggled under pressure from the United front four.

But despite the Red Devils’ constant pressure, they were unable to find a way through, with both Amad and Bruno Fernandes seeing goals ruled out for offside.

United’s record number of offsides this season (6) summed up an attacking play that began when Harry Maguire’s third-minute header collided with the bar.

Manchester City fans will feel hard done by when Diogo Dalot’s 10th-minute challenge on Antoine Semenyo ended with the Portuguese showing his studs into the Ghanaian’s knee.

The Portuguese full-back got off with just a yellow card, but Howard Webb, the Chief Refereeing Officer for the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, claimed at half-time that he should have been dismissed from the game.

“I couldn’t ask for any more,” Carrick said. “The boys took everything on tactically and dealt with it emotionally.”

IF YOU COULD BOTTLE THAT FEELING 🥳🍾 pic.twitter.com/KxhaZpVeZB
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 17, 2026

With the clock ticking down the final minutes, Manchester City supporters streamed out of the packed stadium in the 85th minute as the famous “the city is yours” chant echoed from every corner of a bouncing Old Trafford.

Pep Guardiola’s side is now at risk of falling nine points behind league leaders Arsenal, who take on Nottingham Forest later in the day.

For Manchester United, they currently sit 4th in the league, primed for a possible return to Europe’s most premier cup competition.