Michael Carrick had a perfect start in his second spell as interim boss of Manchester United as second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu inflicted significant damage on Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes.
Arsenal, who travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest later today, Saturday, lead the Premier League with 6 points on both Manchester City and Aston Villa.
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After so much recent discontent, this was a day when Old Trafford came to life, prompting Sir Alex Ferguson to celebrate in the stands and United fans to sarcastically wave goodbye to City’s attacking pillar Erling Haaland when he was substituted ten minutes before the end.
Manchester City had goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to thank for keeping his team in the game, as the Italian saved a number of excellent shots from Dorgu, Amad Diallo, Casemiro and Mbeumo.
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But even Donnarumma was powerless to prevent United from taking the lead when captain Bruno Fernandes led an onrushing counter-attack and played the ball to Mbeumo on the left, before the Cameroonian striker, returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, finished.
Eleven minutes later, United doubled their lead when City defender Rico Lewis was caught off guard, allowing Dorgu to sneak in front of him and insert Matheus Cunha’s rebound.
United had three goals disallowed for offside and Diallo hit the post late in the game, but with Haaland extending his streak to one goal in seven games, City didn’t seem to be able to turn the game around.
While United fans cheered Carrick, City boss Pep Guardiola collapsed in his seat on the bench when his side’s unbeaten streak was extended to four games, opening the door for Arsenal to strengthen their grip on the title.
Albeit briefly, United moved up to fourth place, something they often failed to do under Ruben Amorim, and let Carrick celebrate with his new coaching staff after the end.
Perfect day for Michael Carrick
If there was one controversial moment that Manchester United had to survive, it was Diogo Dalot’s high tackle on Jeremy Doku in the opening minutes. Many felt it deserved a red card, but luckily for Carrick, referee Anthony Taylor and fourth referee Craig Pawson came to a different conclusion.
But after overcoming that hurdle, Carrick’s side delivered the kind of performance the home supporters had been waiting for so long.
From defence to attack, United were fantastic. By keeping only their third clean sheet of the season, United were indebted to Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez to neutralise Haaland’s threat. The one time the Norwegian actually seemed to score, Martinez slid in to block.
Behind them, goalkeeper Senne Lammens redeemed himself the one time he made a serious mistake, when he saved a targeted header from Max Alleyne on a corner kick the Belgian had needlessly given away.
Kobbie Mainoo, so often overlooked by Amorim, flourished alongside Casemiro in midfield as United controlled the game.
Finally, United fans sang their song to Michael Carrick. After two wins and a draw in his first spell as interim boss in 2021, he has now added another memorable success to his list of achievements, and long after the final whistle, he finally went to the dressing room amid loud applause.
Title hopes in tatters
City’s title hopes have been reduced to shreds after being outfought and outmanoeuvred by their closest geographical rivals at a passionate Old Trafford.
United’s supporters, players and staff were up for the challenge long before the first whistle, and City couldn’t match that intensity.
And with Arsenal visiting Nottingham Forest later on Saturday, Guardiola’s men could end the day nine points behind the league leaders with 16 games remaining.
The cacophony of noise and United’s forward and aggressive start managed to disrupt City throughout the game, although captain Bernardo Silva should have done better with his chance in the first half when he headed over from ten yards out.
Academy product Alleyne could have been a derby day hero but saw his soaring header pushed away at full stretch by Lammens, while new signing Antoine Semenyo, who scored here for Bournemouth in the chaotic 4-4 draw last month, shot wide from the edge of the box.
Despite Donnarumma’s previous heroics, he conceded two goals in the second half, and that allowed legendary former Red Devils manager Ferguson to celebrate the result with a big smile and cheers.
The final whistle lifted City out of their suffering, but left the dejected away players watching in disbelief knowing that the title is slipping out of their grasp.
What’s next?
Manchester United next play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 25 January. Manchester City’s next game is in the Champions League in Norway, against Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday 20 January. Their next Premier League game is at home to Wolves on Saturday 24 January.
