How Carrick outwitted Guardiola to make dream start at Man Utd

Football writer Sam Cunningham analyses Michael Carrick's tactics as the Manchester United head coach inspired an impressive win over Manchester City and why City's title challenge is crumbling.

Michael Carrick orchestrated a show of searing entertainment in the Manchester derby the like of which Old Trafford hasn’t seen for some time as Manchester City were blown away 2-0.

It is still very early days, of course, but there were hints of the Manchester United of old that Carrick used to play for during his first game as the club’s new head coach.

Man Utd played dynamic, direct football laced with aggression that City were unable to handle. It produced two goals, another three ruled out for offside, while they hit the woodwork twice.

Everything about this refreshed, reinvigorated Man Utd was reflected in their two goals.

Man Utd were lethal on the counter-attack for the first in the 65th minute. Bruno Fernandes drove through the middle from inside his own half with the ball at his feet before slipping in Bryan Mbeumo, whose first-time shot finally beat Gianluigi Donnarumma after the Man City goalkeeper had kept his side in the game with a string of saves.

For the second, substitute Matheus Cunha burst down the right and crossed for Patrick Dorgu, who showed more hunger to reach the ball than Man City’s defenders with a sprint through the middle to tuck the ball away.

Mainoo's re-introduction and a back four

Kobbie Mainoo was the most noticeable addition to the starting XI when the line-ups were revealed.

Ruben Amorim, whom Carrick replaced in the dugout, didn’t favour the academy graduate and Mainoo had not started a Premier League game since May. He gave the hosts some fluency and control in midfield.

In attack, Benjamin Sesko, scorer of three goals in his last two games, and Cunha were dropped to the bench, replaced by Mbeumo and Amad, both returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.

It was in the shape, however, that the starkest change from the Amorim era was evident.

In Amorim’s last game, against Leeds United, he played his familiar 3-4-2-1 formation, with wing-backs providing the width and the two forwards playing more centrally behind the lone striker.

Carrick returned to a back four in a 4-2-3-1 formation, giving more defensive solidity and getting more out of Amad and Dorgu.

Not only was the defence better organised, there was an aggression and desire to the defending that had seemed lacking under Amorim.

Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw, Man Utd’s full-backs, were both booked in the opening 17 minutes for snapping challenges.

Lisandro Martinez, the centre-back, could be found flying across his penalty area to block a dangerous shot from Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker was reduced to only 14 touches of the ball, and hasn’t scored from open play in seven games – his longest spell while playing in Europe’s top five leagues – before he was surprisingly substituted with 10 minutes remaining.

Precision long balls

One of Carrick’s greatest assets as a midfielder was his accurate long passes – an attribute Sir Alex Ferguson, also in the stadium, frequently utilised. They were another feature of this latest Man Utd reboot.

There was clear encouragement from Carrick for his players to be unafraid to go long.

In the first half, Martinez’s long ball from the back sent Fernandes through on goal and he raced around Donnarumma to score, before the flag went up.

After the break, Dorgu’s cross-field diagonal found Amad and Man Utd were only denied another goal by Donnarumma’s brilliant first save and even better second from Casemiro’s rebound.

Fernandes also played in Amad with a long pass, who took on substitute Nico O’Reilly and then flashed a shot just wide.

Martinez, who joined the club in 2022, said it was the best he’s known Old Trafford in his time at Man Utd. “One important thing Michael Carrick said was, 'Use the energy of the people',” Martinez told Sky Sports. “Today I think we did it. When we are together, it is impossible to lose at home.”

Carrick’s smart substitutions

Carrick also demonstrated his reading of the game and the knowledge to get his team over the line. Though they were well on top, plenty of sides have lost from a winning position against this Man City side, and it was Carrick’s changes that helped to see the game out.

Cunha was sent on for Mbeumo in the 71st minute, and it was the Brazilian's run and low cross that set up the decisive second goal five minutes later. Mason Mount also came on in stoppage time and scored with his first touch, although the goal was overturned for offside against Cunha.

All the signs are promising, but another big test awaits next weekend when Man Utd travel to Emirates Stadium to take on leaders Arsenal.

Another result like this will send a clear message that they are well in the hunt for UEFA Champions League qualification.

City’s crumbling title challenge

What a strange turnaround this is for Pep Guardiola and Man City. From winning seven games in all competitions in December, to winless in the Premier League at the start of January.

This defeat to Man Utd followed draws against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion to leave them lagging badly behind Arsenal in the title race and matching their longest winless run from December 2024.

Guardiola, however, doesn't sound ready to throw the towel in just yet.

"It is about how we grow up as a team,” Guardiola told Sky Sports when asked about the gap to Arsenal. "I have the feeling we have done very good things so far. To be better you may have to take a step back. The season is a long way [to go] and you have to continue to analyse."

When he watches this one back, Guardiola will find a high defensive line that Man Utd repeatedly exposed. And a makeshift backline, due to the injuries to Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, was unable to cope with the demands.

It explains the reported pursuit of Marc Guehi, but how quickly the England centre-back could fit into and fix the defence remains to be seen.

And that isn’t Guardiola’s only concern.

Man City have scored one open-play goal across their last four Premier League matches and their Expected Goals (xG) total of 0.45 against Man Utd was the team’s second-lowest in the nine years under Guardiola.

"The better team won,” Guardiola said. “They were better. When a team is better, you have to accept it. They had the energy we didn't have, so congratulations.”

Man City's lowest xG under Guardiola

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