Carrick handed dream start as United beats City
Michael Carrick's second stint in charge of Manchester United got off to a dream start as Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu scored in a 2-0 derby win over Manchester City.
Carrick, who was previously United's caretaker manager for three games in 2021, insisted this week that Old Trafford had not lost any of its magic, and his team produced an enchanting performance to deal a further blow to City's dwindling title hopes.
United flew out of the traps as Harry Maguire headed against the crossbar from close range only three minutes in, while it was also denied by the offside flag twice in the first half.
Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes both rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma and tapped home only to see the flag raised, while Dorgu forced a good reaction save from Donnarumma.
City's best chance saw a combination of Senne Lammens and Diogo Dalot block Max Alleyne's header, and things did not get any better for Pep Guardiola's team after half-time.
Mbeumo started and finished a fluid counter-attack from a City free-kick in the 65th minute, rolling his finish across Donnarumma after being teed up by Fernandes.
Dorgu effectively killed the contest when he swept home from Matheus Cunha's right-wing cross in the 76th minute, with United passing up further chances to make the scoreline more emphatic.
Amad fired against the post after turning Nathan Ake inside-out, while Mason Mount became the third United player to have a goal disallowed when he turned another Cunha centre home.
Carrick could hardly have asked for a better start to his second stint in the United dugout, and he remains unbeaten in four games in charge of the Red Devils overall.
"I don't want to get carried away with all the DNA kind of thing. We wanted to play well and put things into the game that we thought would help that," Carrick said.
"I couldn't ask for any more. The boys took everything on tactically and dealt with it emotionally. I said yesterday it [Old Trafford] was a magic place and it certainly was today."
Carrick once again answered United's call for support, replacing Darren Fletcher after he stepped in temporarily after Ruben Amorim's dismissal.
"It's as close as we could have hoped for coming into the game. Change is not easy. Then to perform off the back of it," Carrick added.
"I had a real sense in the last few days how desperate the players were to give that feeling of success to the fans. If anything, I was concerned that feeling would go over the top because they are so keen to do well.
"But they managed the emotional side of the game unbelievably well. That made me proud, to watch my team have that feeling."
Carrick refused to let anyone in on his secrets for success against City, explaining he holds Guardiola in too high of a regard to dissect his opponent's weaknesses.
"I am not going to say too much with respect to Pep, he is such an incredible coach and it is such a good team," he continued.
"It is not for me to pick them apart publicly. We wanted to play to our strengths. The two wide lads, Amad and Dorgu, were fantastic both ways.
"Mbeumo and Bruno, [Matheus] Cunha coming on and making the difference, Mount nearly getting the goal. Everything was what we hoped for."
