Carrick humbles Pep Guardiola at Old Trafford. Carrick and his boys shocked not only rival fans but United fans too. United fans entering the game were very low on confidence and were wishing for some light of hope.
Carrick and United players gifted their fans exactly what they wanted: a hope that they can play good football and qualify for the Champions League next season.
United looked very different than last week’s game. The buildup, passing fluidity in transitions, and counters were flawless and often founded city in vulnerable positions and made their defense look toothless.
Manchester City got stunned by United’s counters and Carrick’s masterclass
After the sacking of Ruben Amorim, the fan base was in a complete mess. Manchester United fans got very frustrated by the board’s bad decisions and incompetence in running a football club.
Protests are still being held throughout Manchester against the Owners, Glazers, and INEOS. This victory was a breath of joy in times like these. Where it clinched many fans out of disparity and sorrow.
Timeline
- 65’ GOAL! Mbeumo (Manchester United): Maguire powers a City free-kick clear and United break at pace, Fernandes carrying the ball through the centre before sliding a perfectly weighted pass into Mbeumo on the right. The forward takes a touch into the box and coolly guides a low right-footed shot across Donnarumma into the far corner to put United 1-0 up in the derby.
- 76’ GOAL! Dorgu (Manchester United): Fresh from the bench, Cunha spins away down the right and drives towards the byline, shrugging off O’Reilly before lifting an inviting cross towards the back post. Dorgu times his run to perfection, stealing in front of Lewis to cushion a controlled first-time finish past Donnarumma from close range, doubling United’s lead and sparking wild celebrations at Old Trafford.
Final Score: Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City
Tactical Breakdown
Michael Carrick turned the derby into a trap and Pep walked straight into it. United didn’t chase shadows; they let City have the ball where it hurt least. The block was narrow, patient, almost stubborn. Every time the pass into Rodri was on, Bruno or Mainoo snapped in, and suddenly City’s great control machine looked toothless.
City had the ball, but they never really had United. Most of their possession went sideways, then wide, then harmless crosses that Maguire and Martínez dealt with like routine clearances. Haaland-type chaos never came. Pep tried to stretch it with Doku and Semenyo, but the half-spaces were locked; there was no one receiving clean between the lines.
The real jolt was Dorgu on the right. On paper, it felt almost reckless; in reality, it was inspired. A young full-back thrown high up the pitch in a derby, on his “wrong” flank, against one of the best teams in Europe. But his direct running pinned City’s left side, and his starting positions gave United an instant outlet on every turnover.
That first goal was pure Carrick-ball. Set-piece defended, line pushed up, Maguire heads clear, Mbeumo drops in, Bruno connects the next pass, and suddenly City’s high line is exposed and scrambling. One clean vertical attack, one finish, and all that sterile City possession looks pointless.
The second goal is where the Dorgu gamble cashes in. Cunha bullies his way down the right, whips a vicious ball into the corridor, and Dorgu is exactly where a real winger should be—between full-back and centre-back, arriving on time, not admiring the play from deep. It looks simple on replay. It’s not. It comes from a manager trusting a brave, awkward-looking idea.
Pep didn’t exactly get it “wrong”; he just never solved the problem Carrick posed. No free Rodri, no rhythm. No free half-spaces, no combinations. Once United led, the game felt like it belonged to them, even with only a slice of the ball. This wasn’t just a good result; it was a statement that United, under Carrick, is finally winning games with a clear, unapologetic idea of who they are
Standout Performers
- Bryan Mbeumo – Mbeumo was United’s cutting edge in transition, the forward who finally turned their pressure into a lead. After starting the move himself by winning the second ball from a cleared City free-kick, he combined quickly with Bruno Fernandes and then slid a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner to make it 1–0, his eighth league goal of the season.
- Bruno Fernandes – Bruno was the on‑field conductor, even without a goal to his name. Operating in the No.10 role, he repeatedly found pockets of space, fed runners like Mbeumo and Amad, and threaded the pass that launched the counter-attack for the opener, adding yet another big-game contribution to his United career.
- Lisandro Martínez – Martínez delivered the kind of assured defensive performance that derby wins are built on. Starting alongside Harry Maguire, he was calm and aggressive in duels, used his reading of the game to step in front of Haaland and others, and distributed the ball crisply from the back, almost creating a chance with one of his trademark diagonals.
- Patrick Dorgu – Dorgu produced a statement performance on the left, capping it with the goal that killed the game. Full of energy and direct running, he repeatedly attacked Rico Lewis and, in the 76th minute, timed his movement perfectly to dart across the right-back and cushion Matheus Cunha’s cross into the top corner for 2–0.
Managers Reaction
Michael Carrick:
“You could feel how much they wanted it, and desperate to bring success here… I couldn’t ask any more from the boys.”
“Kobbie Mainoo was great alongside Casemiro. They gave us a foundation really – with Licha and Harry”.
“I felt it was a game for experience and knowing what it feels like. It was a bit of a calculated gamble to see if Mainoo could get through it”.
Pep Guardiola:
“Today it’s simple: Man United was better than ManCity. And you have to accept.”
“But In 10 years, how many times have we been better? Because I’ve lost here 3-0, or 2-0, but we were a little bit there… Today we have not been.
Stats
Fan Reactions
Conclusion
Carrick brought fresh air among the fans and the dressing room. The goal from here for his team from here will be Champions League qualification.
United looked much more fluid in midfield, and a brilliant build-up to the goals from midfield and defense.
Manchester United looked very different on the pitch. It looked as if it were a completely different team from Amorim. Fans finally now have a light of hope for good football and scorelines.
