A triumphant return in his debut, winning the Manchester derby! After four years, Carrick’s luck remains intact.

By Han Bing Within 91 hours of retaking charge at Manchester United, Carrick achieved the best start of his coaching career. In the 65th minute, Mbemou, just back from the Africa Cup, scored the opener from a Bruno Fernandes pass; six minutes later, he was substituted by Cunha. The Brazilian striker then assisted Diallo in the 76th minute to seal the win, securing Manchester United’s 198th Manchester derby victory. After more than four years, fortune still follows this lucky figure at Manchester United.

For any Manchester United manager in Guardiola’s era, every Manchester derby is a major test. This time, Ferguson wore a bright smile in the box, while Guardiola slumped helplessly in his comfortable substitute seat, watching Old Trafford drown in celebration. With 10 minutes remaining, Haaland, who had failed to score from open play in seven consecutive matches, was substituted off, finally freed from the tight marking of Lisandro and Maguire, much to the delight of Manchester United fans. As former United player Owen said, Carrick’s Manchester United reminds him of the Ferguson era. The spirit of never giving up and the hunger for victory ultimately brings success.

Though reliving the glory of Ferguson’s era from 13 years ago remains distant, for today’s Manchester United, defeating Manchester City is enough. In the lower tier of the Stretford End stands the number “115” — the count of charges against Manchester City for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. United fans once hoped to rely on lengthy legal battles to challenge their local rivals who replaced them as Premier League kings, but off-field matters cannot compare to Carrick’s restored fighting spirit that left Old Trafford’s supporters satisfied.

People seem to see Ferguson’s shadow in Carrick: even when Maguire’s header struck the crossbar and Donnarumma made five saves, the new Manchester United manager remained composed. Still wearing the black coat he donned four years ago, he paced calmly with hands behind his back, far less restless than the opposing players. Despite having only managed 17 Premier League games, he has not lost his rationality: “Manchester United’s performance in the derby was outstanding in every aspect. The task for the next 16 matches is to maintain this high standard—that is Manchester United’s normal state.”

Manchester City couldn’t control Manchester United’s rhythm, and United kept close on the scoreline. Amad’s curved run and shot hit the right post and bounced out, while Mount’s stoppage-time goal was ruled offside, marking key moments in the match. For Manchester City, it was a dark day, though it could have been worse: after Arsenal was held 0-0 by Nottingham Forest that evening, City remained second, seven points behind the leaders. For Manchester United, however, it was an afternoon of hope: after 22 rounds, United sits fifth in the Premier League with 35 points, just one behind fourth-placed Liverpool, still in contention for a Champions League spot by season’s end.

Over the past 13 years, Manchester United has experienced many false dawns. Several times, it seemed the suffocating, humiliating, and despairing post-Sir Alex Ferguson era might finally be over. The unforgettable moment came in 2017 when Mourinho lifted the Europa League trophy in Stockholm. Perhaps this is another such experience: celebrations at Old Trafford, United fans immersed in the moment, and Carrick’s interim coaching debut may signal a promising future.

At least on this passionate afternoon, Manchester United shed all the shadows and pain of the Amolin era, abandoned infighting and pessimism, and left behind endless anxiety. Amid the noise, home fans seemed to rediscover the Manchester United that once dominated all rivals. This 2-0 victory could easily have been 5-0 or even 6-0, a cathartic release for United supporters and an inspiring triumph for Carrick.

Some feared Carrick would only bring a lifeless rebound to Manchester United, but his impressive performance in this match, with organized play and seamless teamwork, resembled a fiery cat leaping onto a hot tin roof, completely overwhelming Manchester City with energy and urgency. Carrick changed five starters: dropping Sheshko and Cunha, starting Menu, with Bruno Fernandes as brilliant as ever, and strong contributions from Diallo and Mbemou. United dominated Guardiola’s team in every aspect.

Beyond the derby win, another piece of good news for Manchester United fans was Carrick’s refusal to rule out staying on after this season. If the team secures a Champions League spot as hoped, why would Manchester United, as Neville suggested, give up on Carrick in favor of some so-called “long-term plan”?