A new era at Manchester United has started, not with a whisper, but with a bang. For much of 2025, Old Trafford was defined by noise, confusion, and tension. Players looked unsure of their roles; the structure felt fragile. On Saturday, that changed.
In his first game as interim head coach, Michael Carrick didn't just deliver a 2-0 win over Manchester City; he delivered clarity. There was no chaos. There was no uncertainty. Instead, United played with a purpose and structure that has been missing all season.
It is only one game, but the difference was stark. Here is why United finally look like a team again.Simplicity Over Systems
Under the previous regime, United were often bogged down in complex systems that left players second-guessing themselves. Carrick immediately stripped that back. He ditched the 3-4-3 experiments and returned to a balanced 4-2-3-1. It wasn't revolutionary, but it was effective. The players knew their jobs. When United had the ball, they were direct. When they lost it, they didn't panic—they simply flooded back into a compact shape to protect the back four. United finished the first half with just 28% possession, a stat that usually signals disaster. But this time, it felt controlled. They weren't passing for the sake of passing; they were waiting to strike.
Putting Bruno Back Where He Belongs
Perhaps the biggest frustration of the previous few months was seeing Bruno Fernandes deployed as a No. 6. It shackled United’s most creative player. Carrick fixed that instantly. Restored to his natural No. 10 role, Fernandes looked like the heartbeat of the team again. He was the catalyst for the direct, expansive breaks that terrorized City’s high line. He created three big chances, including the perfectly weighted assist for Bryan Mbeumo’s opener. By simply putting his best player in his best position, Carrick gave the team its teeth back.
Sweat, Grit, and the "White Flag"
Derbies are often won by the team willing to do the ugly work. United’s defensive work rate was relentless. We saw Casemiro, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martinez throwing themselves into tackles and blocking shots without hesitation. But the real symbol of this new grit was Amad Diallo. When Diogo Dalot picked up an early yellow card against Jeremy Doku, Amad didn't leave his fullback isolated. He dropped deep, effectively turning United into a 5-4-1 at times to double up on the City winger. The pressure was so intense that Pep Guardiola essentially waved the white flag in the 80th minute, subbing off Erling Haaland while chasing a deficit—a rare admission that his team had no answers.
The Verdict
"I am not getting carried away," Carrick told Sky Sports after the match. He is right to be cautious. One result doesn't erase a difficult season. But this performance wasn't about luck. It was about a team looking comfortable in its own skin for the first time in a long time. The "noise" of 2025 has been replaced by a quiet, ruthless efficiency. United didn't need a revolution. They just needed a structure.
