Manchester United

Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney labelled the weekend win over rivals Manchester City as the club's 'best performance in a long time', and hopes it is a glimpse of what is to come under Michael Carrick.

After a goalless first half, Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo - returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty - fired United in front, with Patrick Dorgu doubling the lead 11 minutes later.

"I think what Michael has done with the team wasn't rocket science. It was a simple tweak in terms of what he'd done in terms of formation," the former England striker said.

"Everyone's been talking a lot about Ruben Amorim's formation in the back three and how it suited Manchester United as well.

"So he changed that, but if you go back to the last podcast we'd done when I spoke about what United need to do, it's simple really, it's run and work hard. It was so refreshing to see the players do that.

"I thought Amad [Diallo] and Dorgu on the wings were excellent, the work-rate they put in to help the full-backs out and they got into a compact shape, which I spoke about, and hit Man City on the break."

Amorim was dismissed on 5 January, and Rooney said United's win over City was "night and day from what we've been seeing" under the Portuguese.

"You can feel it from the fans as well, the difference in energy from the team, the confidence, the belief, the composure on the ball at the right times.

"It was night and day from what we've been seeing, so it was such a good day. It reminded me, when we talk about Man Utd's DNA, that was it...

"Work hard, run for your team-mate, get back into shape, be hard to play against - [and then] when you get an opportunity run forward."

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United fans have enjoyed an excellent weekend after Saturday's derby win at Old Trafford.

However, with a trip to Arsenal to come on Sunday, the challenges for caretaker boss Michael Carrick don't get any easier.

There has also been more speculation about potential changes to his squad, with one report suggesting a deal for former Wolves skipper Ruben Neves is close.

United sources have repeatedly played down the chances of signings this month unless they were part of a long-term plan, as was the case with Antoine Semenyo, who turned down a move to Old Trafford and played in Saturday's game for Manchester City.

And, judging by the comments of Roma director of football Frederic Massara yesterday, nothing has changed.

Roma have been keen to sign Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee, who is injured and watched the City game from the directors' box.

Zirkzee wants to leave United to further his international ambitions but, according to Massara, it doesn't look like happening.

"Manchester United said no quite clearly a couple of weeks ago and they have not changed their minds," Massara told Italian media before his side's 2-0 win at Torino.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Manchester derby.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Jan: Wow!! That performance took me back!! The energy, determination and the pride! The players enjoyed the game, more so as it was City we beat!! More of the same please.

Paul: The best Manchester United team performance in years. Took me back to the glory years of Sir Alex. Fitting it was with one of Ferguson's boys leading the team in the trademark, attacking ways. Absolutely fantastic.

Philip: Fergie reborn! A very spirited all-round performance with individual excellence. Michael Carrick's Reds give me long-awaited hope for the future of our great club.

Glen: This is the best all-round performance I have seen from United since the Fergie years. It could easily have been four or five. Very early days but encouraging signs.

Alan: Best performance for many years. Could so easily have been 5-0. Team played with confidence and made an excellent City team look ordinary.

Man City fans

Liam: When Rico Lewis was named at right-back I knew we were in trouble. I could be slated for saying this, but Erling Haaland doesn't help - 14 touches of the football is not good enough. I would like to see him replaced with Marmoush, who'll play deeper and make runs into the box.

Tristan: What on earth was that performance, especially in the Manchester Derby? We were fatigued from the first minute.

Frank: City looked tired and Haaland, in particular, needs benching to freshen up.

Colin: United the better team and deserved to win. Phil Foden just kept playing the ball back and will be lucky to get on the plane to the World Cup. Jeremy Doku had loads of chances to take on Diogo Dalot, but just held the ball up and then passed back. Overall, a disappointing performance.

Freddie: I think United were simply the better team and we didn't take the few chances we had. Bernardo Silva, Max Alleyne and Antoine Semenyo all not finding the net with chances. Gianluigi Donnarumma was very good and kept us in it for a while, but he was the only player who put in a good performance. I'm finding it hard to picture us winning the Premier League this season even if we do get Marc Guehi.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says a Manchester derby win "is a good start for Michael Carrick", but Manchester United need to find consistency before people can say "they have turned a corner".

Carrick was appointed as United's interim head coach on Tuesday until the end of the season, replacing the sacked Ruben Amorim.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu secured a deserved victory over Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Saturday at a raucous Old Trafford.

"It is one game and I expected a new manager bounce," said Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Did I expect it to be as good as this? No. That's because, although it was a win, it was one they actually deserved.

"It is a good start for Carrick but we've seen this story before so we have to be careful. Consistency is key so I don't want to say Manchester United have turned a corner because it's still the same players that lost to Wolves.

"Kobbie Mainoo came back in and had a good game and Patrick Dorgu played higher up, which worked because he can be a defensive liability.

"At United, it's about stroking egos and getting the players to find confidence in themselves again to go out there and perform. It might have needed someone different to motivate these players because there is not really a lot that Carrick can teach them."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Manchester United are prepared to rival Napoli and Atletico Madrid for Wolves' Portugal midfielder Joao Gomes, 24. (Caught Offside), external

Two England midfielders - Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, 23, and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, 21 - are also on Manchester United's list of targets for the summer. (Football Insider), external

United and Tottenham have both made contact with former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

In the build-up to the first game of his second stint as Manchester United head coach, Michael Carrick spoke about Old Trafford being "a magical place".

Few imagined he would conjure up a performance against Manchester City so complete Pep Guardiola admitted his team might have been beaten even if Diogo Dalot had been sent off in the opening minutes.

With a 2-0 victory, Carrick has now added Guardiola's name to a list of managers he has beaten as United head coach that also includes Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta. He has also drawn with a Chelsea side managed by Thomas Tuchel.

As he left the pitch to the echoes of the song United fans created for him when he first arrived as a player in 2006, Carrick was able to reflect on a day that could hardly have gone any better.

"It's a great start, there's no getting away from that," he said, smiling.

Umir Irfan, Football tactics correspondent

United impressed in all phases of play. Their 32% possession meant they spent large parts of the game defending but they still limited City to 0.45 xG.

Out of possession, their 4-4-2 compact shape was executed with excellent co-ordination and intensity. The roles of wingers Amad and Patrick Dorgu stood out. Dorgu man-marked Rico Lewis - nullifying his influence as he moved into central attacking positions - while Amad often dropped into the defensive line to form a back five, marshalling Jeremy Doku well.

When City had the ball, United's 4-4-2 funnelled them into wide areas, where they defended with four players. With the striker, central midfielder, winger and full-back all coming across, it was difficult for City to find the space to create anything of note.

In attack, United played in a way that was true to their traditions, taking advantage of their speed and directness.

The positioning of Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo either side of Rodri posed difficult questions of City's defensive midfielder, while wide players - Dorgu on the left and Matheus Cunha on the right - were able to combine for United's second.

Read more on Carrick's perfect start

Hear reaction from Mbeumo and Dorgu on BBC Sounds

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Chelsea 2-0 Brentford

• Tottenham 1-2 West Ham

• Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

If there was one controversial moment for Manchester United to survive, it was Diogo Dalot's high challenge on Jeremy Doku in the opening minutes.

Many felt it warranted a red card but thankfully for Michael Carrick, referee Anthony Taylor and fourth official Craig Pawson came to a different conclusion.

Once they had overcome that hurdle though, Carrick's team delivered the kind of statement performance the home supporters had waited so long for.

From back to front, United were magnificent.

In delivering only their third clean sheet of the season, United were indebted to Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez for neutralising Erling Haaland's threat.

On the one occasion the Norwegian did look like scoring, Martinez slid in to block.

Behind them, goalkeeper Senne Lammens redeemed himself on the one occasion he made a serious mistake, turning away a goal-bound Max Alleyne header from a corner the Belgian had needlessly given away.

Kobbie Mainoo, so often overlooked by Ruben Amorim, flourished alongside Casemiro in midfield as United controlled the game.

By the end, United's fans were singing 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 headed to the dressing rooms to huge applause.

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, speaking to BBC MOTD after the 2-0 win over Man City: "There was so much good in the day. I think I was interested going into the game about how it would come together. It's been a compressed prep, there's been changes and it's not always easy for players to deal with that. So we were well aware of how much information we could give them, how much we had to get a balance on that and simplifying it as much as we could.

"They're an unbelievable team, they make you work so hard for so many things within the game that we had to be aware of. The boys took it on so, so well and were able to control that emotionally. I just felt like they were really desperate to do well, the boys. If anything, I was worried about the desperation over-spilling and making bad decisions because you're so keen, but they managed it so well. To put on a performance like that today, it was a special day. It was a nice feeling."

On how it's been since taking charge: "I think it's always different inside to out, it always is. But for me to come in and feel it, the players really care and want to learn and want to be helped. There's not the egos where they think they know it all. We've got to push them as well and ask a lot from them. As a group, they've been unbelievable. The starters, the boys that were not involved, the subs, the ones that came on, everyone has been top drawer, and it all came together and it all came together nicely.

"It's got to be a start, we've got another big game next week and we've got to build as we go through the season. We're not getting carried away."

On Harry Maguire: "We were going into the game, and he's literally trained two days out of 45 or so, so it was a big ask. He came on the other day for a short period of time but again hasn't really trained a whole lot so we've got to manage him. It shows again how much it means to the boys to play, and the boys were going down with all sorts. He got through it he managed him well. He was a big presence at the back for us. he showed that immense experience."

You can listen to more from Carrick here

Did you know?

• Four of Patrick Dorgu's five Premier League goal involvements for Manchester United have come in his last six appearances (2 goals, 2 assists).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester United's performance

What did you make of Manchester City's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

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Michael Carrick has made five changes to his first Manchester United starting line-up, bringing back Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo following their return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko both drop to the bench as Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire are included in a four-man defence, while Casemiro replaces Manuel Ugarte alongside Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.

Joshua Zirkzee is not included in the squad.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Dorgu, Mbeumo.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Mount, Cunha, Malacia, Yoro, Ugarte, Heaven, Sesko, J Fletcher.

Three changes for Manchester City following Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Newcastle.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rico Lewis and Rodri return, with James Trafford and Nico O'Reilly dropping to the bench while Matheus Nunes is not in Pep Guardiola's squad.

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Rodri, Semenyo, Foden, Bernardo Silva, Doku, Haaland.

Substitutes: Trafford, Bettinelli, Reijnders, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, O'Reilly, McAidoo, Mukasa, Mfuni.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Man City (12:30)

• Chelsea v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Leeds v Fulham

• Liverpool v Burnley

• Sunderland v Crystal Palace

• Tottenham v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Brentford" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Arsenal", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

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Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Darren Fletcher about recent events and what happens next at his former club.

He gives his thoughts on incoming interim boss Michael Carrick, what skillset a United manager needs and how that person should be someone who will "ruffle feathers".

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

New Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick will be hoping his record as a player against derby rivals Manchester City is a good omen upon his return to the Old Trafford hotseat.

Carrick the midfielder recorded 13 victories against City, his highest number of wins against any Premier League opponent bar Sunderland. As the 198th Manchester derby beckons on Saturday (12:30 GMT), both teams are on a run of three consecutive league draws.

Derby dugout debut

This will be the first time in the history of the fixture that either club has gone into the game with a new boss in charge.

If Carrick's men do go ahead, the five-time title winner will be wary of their inability to hold onto a lead; they have lost 14 points from winning positions this season, a problem that the now-departed Ruben Amorim struggled to address.

The Red Devils, who sit seventh, will also have to contend with the visitors' relentless running power. City players have covered more ground than any other team in the division this season, collectively running an average of 115.6 km per game.

Semenyo shining

Pep Guardiola's squad has recently been bolstered by the addition of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. The Ghana forward has hit the ground running with two goals in his first two games and is aiming to become first player to score in his first three appearances for the club since Jackie Dyson in 1955.

Excellent returns from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden mean City's current squad have scored a combined 18 league goals in Manchester derbies.

In Haaland and Semenyo, City have two of the Premier League's three top scorers. Haaland, who scored a hat-trick in his first Manchester derby, had a hand in all three goals on his most recent visit to Old Trafford in October 2023 - scoring twice and assisting Foden in a comfortable 3-0 win.

Second-placed City have won nine Premier League away games against United, more than any other visiting side.

Well, I know who is going to win this. I'm just not sure about the score.

What on earth is going on at Manchester United? It just seems like they are making it up as they go along.

I don't get the thinking at Old Trafford, so I'm probably wrong here, but it looks to me like they are waiting to try to get England boss Thomas Tuchel in the summer, or maybe even United States manager Mauricio Pochettino - who could also be free after the World Cup.

In the meantime, here we are with United treading water again. It would have been interesting if Darren Fletcher had won the two games when he was manager - would he still be in charge?

We will have to see how caretaker boss Michael Carrick lines United up - whether he plays with a back four and what shape he will use - but I don't see it making much difference against Manchester City.

I was at St James' Park on Tuesday and City were really comfortable against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. That was the first time I've seen Rayan Cherki in the flesh and when he came on you could tell what an intelligent footballer he is.

Erling Haaland has only scored once, a penalty, in his past six games and he did not get on the scoresheet when City scored 10 against Exeter in the FA Cup.

So he is due a goal and he usually gets at least one against United - he has scored eight in six league games against them - so they need to find a way of stopping him this time.

This is such a tough start for Carrick. I am going to give United a goal for their fans to get excited about, but City will still take the points pretty easily.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Read the full predictions and have your say

Four years, one month and 15 days separate the final game of Michael Carrick's first stint in charge of Manchester United and his first match back against Manchester City on Saturday - and it is fair to say that a lot has changed at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo and reserve goalkeeper Tom Heaton are the only players at the club today who were part of Manchester United's 2021-22 squad.

Ralf Rangnick, Carrick's successor at Old Trafford, pointed out the need for the club to perform an "open heart operation" in order to get back to competing at the highest level - and the sheer turnover in players since then would suggest that some kind of drastic change has happened.

There is no denying that there are players from the current squad who would have been regular features in Carrick's last team - but the fact that the Red Devils sat in seventh place in the league when he left in December 2021 and will also be in seventh place at the start of Saturday's match tells you a lot about the success of that overhaul.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

If anyone was in the slightest of doubt Michael Carrick's press conferences are going to be different to Ruben Amorim's, Friday's will have dispelled them.

Carrick just is not the type of character to get drawn into slanging matches, to make jaw-dropping statements or fan the flames of controversy.

Wayne Rooney says there is steel to Carrick's character, which I do not doubt is true.

However, I suspect Carrick has one version of himself for the dressing room and training pitch and another in front of the media.

He responded to my questions about the weight of opinion around United politely and clearly. But he could not have done a better job at shutting the conversation down.

Equally, whatever he thinks privately about Roy Keane and his comments relating to his wife, Lisa, he is keeping them to himself.

Carrick will be judged on results, not what he says in press conferences. I suspect he is quite happy with that.