Before his first game back as Manchester United head coach, Michael Carrick talked about Old Trafford being "a magical place." Few expected such a perfect performance against Manchester City—so good that Pep Guardiola admitted his team might have lost even if Diogo Dalot had been sent off early.
Carrick has now added Guardiola to the list of managers he’s beaten as United head coach, which also includes Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta. He even drew with Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel. As he left the pitch, United fans sang the song they first made for him when he arrived as a player in 2006—a moment Carrick clearly enjoyed.
"It’s a great start, there’s no getting away from that," he said, smiling.
Carrick isn’t one to give flashy quotes or laugh for the cameras like Ruben Amorim might. He’s calm, experienced, and doesn’t get carried away by one big win.
"Consistency is the key to any success," he said. "If you can find that, you’re on to a winner. We won’t always have games with the emotion of today, but there’s a standard we need to live up to."
Even after retiring, Carrick and his family kept their season tickets at United. He’s also worked as a TV pundit, analyzing his old team’s games. He couldn’t have known Amorim would be sacked or that he’d take over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but he already had ideas on how to get the best from the players.
His approach focused on players like Kobbie Mainoo, who hadn’t thrived under Amorim’s strict style. Mainoo paired brilliantly with veteran Casemiro in midfield, giving United a solid foundation. Harry Maguire, starting his first game since November, also helped Lisandro Martinez keep Erling Haaland quiet. Manchester City’s expected goals (xG) was just 0.45—their second lowest under Guardiola in 364 Premier League games.
"It was a big ask of him, but he was fantastic," said Carrick of Maguire.
Even critics like Gary Neville and Roy Keane praised Carrick. Neville said, "Michael Carrick is in heaven. Manchester City cannot believe it." Keane added, "It’s not luck—they were run ragged." Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport the win showed the “United DNA”: players working hard off the ball and wingers helping the full-backs.
United hit the woodwork twice, had three goals disallowed, and Donnarumma made four top-class saves. His reaction to stop Casemiro in the second half left the Brazilian frustrated.
There’s been debate about who should manage United long-term, but Carrick’s performance brought real emotion back to Old Trafford. For the first time in years, fans celebrated a team following a clear plan and giving their all in a crucial game.
"The players fed off the atmosphere," Carrick said. "They wanted to do well, but I reminded them not to get carried away. The supporters were incredible. Old Trafford can do funny things, and getting that feeling was exactly what we wanted. We need to build on it, but you’ve got to enjoy it when it comes."
