With Michael Carrick’s reign as Manchester United interim head coach starting in Saturday’s derby, we ask five key questions that’ll be on the minds of supporters.
Manchester United’s latest ‘new era’ begins on Saturday, as interim head coach Michael Carrick returns to the dugout for the first game of his second spell in charge after his Tuesday appointment.
He starts with the Manchester derby, as Manchester City visit Old Trafford hoping to maintain their position in the Premier League title race while denting their neighbours’ Champions League hopes.
It’s a massive fixture whenever it’s played, but this one arguably takes on an even greater level of intrigue, and ahead of kick-off we have identified five key questions Carrick may well be contemplating…
Can Carrick Buck Derby Trend Like Ruben Amorim?
Talk about a baptism of fire.
While Carrick has of course been in charge of Man Utd for three games in the past, there is a slightly greater degree of permanence this time as he has been appointed until the end of the season in an interim role rather than just as a caretaker.
With that in mind, he’ll be the first manager – or maybe that should read head coach? – of United or City to begin a spell in charge of either club with a Manchester derby.
It’s pretty much as unenviable as opening games go for a Manchester United manager of the post-Alex Ferguson era.
Having said that, expectations won’t be high, to the extent that Carrick can likely earn some early points (of the brownie variety, not necessarily of the Premier-League-table kind) as long as United are competitive, spirited and not blown away.
Typically, it’s not a fixture United bosses have done well in on their first attempts, though.
David Moyes, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag all suffered three-goal defeats in their first Manchester derby, while Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were all beaten as well.
The only coach since Ferguson to beat City in his first game at the United helm was Ruben Amorim, who saw his side memorably overturn a 1-0 deficit with two goals from the 88th minute onwards in December 2024.
First, Amad Diallo brilliantly won a penalty that Bruno Fernandes converted, before the Ivorian winger latched on to Lisandro Martínez’s sweeping pass to score a remarkable and dramatic stoppage-time winner.
Carrick may hope to dispel most memories of the Amorim era, but that was a victory he’ll be desperate to emulate.
Can Man Utd Rely on Sitting Back and Counter-Attacks?
Although Manchester City’s average share of possession this season across all competitions (62.2%) is the lowest it’s been in any campaign since Pep Guardiola took over in 2016, they do still tend to have considerably more of the ball than their opposition.
Similarly, City’s average share of possession specifically against United over the same period is almost exactly the same (62.3%).
This reflects how United have generally – deliberately or otherwise – found themselves under significant pressure in this fixture over the past nine years. That hasn’t always led to defeats, however.
Solskjaer’s United averaged a mere 36.4% possession in meetings with City, and yet he won (4) as many derbies as he lost (4).
It’s obviously difficult to predict how Carrick will approach this match, but it wouldn’t be especially surprising if United put a similar focus on fast attacks rather than patient, considered ones.
Although Carrick’s Middlesbrough side tended to have more of the ball than their opponents, they were also known to be pretty effective in transition.
From the point he was hired in 2022-23 until the end of that season, Boro’s 21 shots from fast breaks (defined as fast counter-attacks starting in a team’s own half with the opposition’s defence at least partly unsorted) was the second most in the Championship; they then ranked joint fifth in 2023-24 (29) and first in 2024-25 (50).
He’s taken over a squad that features numerous dynamic attackers potentially well-suited to such football, and several good distributors – Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro and Martínez – who could facilitate incisive moves. It’s also worth noting that 9.8% of City’s shots faced this term have been from fast breaks, with that the fifth-highest proportion of all Premier League teams.
The question from United’s perspective, however, is: is their defence good enough to play in a way that will likely invite a certain amount of pressure?
Their 32 goals conceded this term is the most United have let in at this stage of a Premier League campaign and may suggest the answer is no, but a change from Amorim’s three-at-the-back system might have an impact.
Will There Be a Bold or Disruptive Midfield Pairing?
If there were any ‘winners’ from Amorim’s departure, few United players have more of a case than Kobbie Mainoo.
One of the most talented players to come through United’s academy since the ‘Class of 92’, the club’s inability to qualify for Europe – and their early elimination from the EFL Cup – this term probably hurt Mainoo’s gametime more than that of anyone else.
He has also spent time out injured, and then there’s the theory Amorim didn’t consider him physical or mobile enough to play as part of a midfield pairing in a 3-4-3, but if United had more opportunity (or need) to rotate then Mainoo surely would’ve played more.
After being the epitome of a bit-part player, Mainoo then featured in both of Darren Fletcher’s games as caretaker head coach, with those two appearances accounting for 21.6% of his minutes (85:12, including stoppage time) for the season.
Yash Thakur /The most recent of those games saw Mainoo start alongside Manuel Ugarte in a pairing behind Fernandes. It would be a stretch to say he was exceptional in his 62 minutes on the pitch, but he did create three opportunities in the opening half hour and there was a sense his presence aided United’s ability to play through Brighton’s press at times.
It was his first start in any competition since the September humiliation by Grimsby, so any hints of rustiness were understandable. But a player with his technical quality still offers plenty, and sharpness will improve with time.
Against City, Carrick may opt for a central pairing that prioritises disruption, so Ugarte alongside Casemiro. But if he’s feeling bold and wants to make a show of intent to supporters about the sort of football he intends to play, getting Mainoo into the team might be an easy win.
After all, if you want a midfielder to aid incisive transitions and your options are Mainoo or Ugarte (assuming Fernandes plays higher up), the choice would be a simple one for most. Let’s not forget, Mainoo lit up the 2024 FA Cup final against the same opposition.
Either way, Carrick has a decision to make.
Is There Room for Amad and Mbeumo?
While Mainoo didn’t seem to benefit a great deal from Amorim’s time in charge, Amad Diallo’s prominence grew considerably under the Portuguese coach.
Amad may well have gone on to properly establish himself under Erik ten Hag anyway, as he’d been used semi-regularly from March 2024 onwards.
In fairness, injuries had previously limited his availability to Ten Hag, so we aren’t suggesting he lacked belief in Amad. But by the same token, the winger played more than 31 minutes in just one of the Dutchman’s last five games.
When he did play for Ten Hag, Amad averaged 49 and 16 seconds (including stoppage time) over 24 appearances; under Amorim, he averaged 83 minutes and 25 seconds over 43 outings.
Yash Thakur /Amorim clearly appreciated that Amad was capable of getting up and down the right flank, making him a suitable – albeit very attack-minded – option at wing-back. That became his most regular role after Bryan Mbeumo’s summer arrival, and the pair struck up a decent relationship on the right-hand side.
But with Carrick likely to follow Fletcher’s lead and ditch Amorim’s three-at-the-back system, Amad and Mbeumo – now both back from the Africa Cup of Nations – will theoretically be vying for the same position on the right side of the attack.
Most would probably assume Mbeumo will get the nod; he did cost a small fortune in the summer, after all. But in a direct comparison between their respective outputs, Amad more than holds his own.
Last season, when he played a significant chunk of his football on the right side of the attack, Amad averaged 4.1 shots and open-play chances created per 90; that’s at 4.0 this season. Mbeumo averaged 3.6 last term and was at 3.8 in 2025-26 before heading off to the AFCON. They’re not huge differences, granted, but they do come out in the Ivorian’s favour.
Amad’s output has, perhaps unsurprisingly, shown he has a greater tendency to create for others than Mbeumo, laying on 1.9 chances in open play in each this and last season; the Cameroonian averaged 1.3 per 90 last term and 1.1 in 2025-26.
Amad is also a more willing dribbler and carrier, whereas Mbeumo has a better track record for finishing and getting into good scoring positions; his 0.36 non-penalty expected goals (xG) per 90 in 2025-26 is considerably better than his rival’s was last season (0.22) when often playing a similar role.
Granted, these numbers will be partly influenced by operating in different positions, though they do also broadly reflect their respective styles of play. Carrick will likely give some thought to getting both in the team because they’ve each been important, but it’ll be tricky to do so while also playing to each of their strengths.
Yash Thakur /It could be that Mbeumo is also used centrally, as he effectively played up top (though as part of a two) during his final season at Brentford, which would make room for both him and Amad.
But, there may not be cause to move someone else into that central role…
Can Sesko Continue Making Strides?
Benjamin Sesko scored more goals for Fletcher (three) in just two games than he did for Amorim (two) in 17 appearances.
In truth, the change in head coach is probably little more than a coincidence. It’s likelier that Sesko is simply a little more used to his teammates (and vice versa), while he’s now had a few months to settle.
Either way, the signs of late have been encouraging, and not just because of the goals – important though they are.
The most pleasing aspect of Sesko’s form of late from United’s perspective must be the frequency of the chances he is getting.
He’s managed at least three shots in each of his past four appearances across all competitions, even going as high as eight when he scored twice versus Burnley. Twenty-two shots he’s tallied across those four games, and every single one of them has been from inside the area as well.
Sure, he’ll have wanted more goals from those efforts, but arguably the most important thing for United is they have a centre-forward who looks a threat. He’s making runs, getting on the end of crosses, and even creating the odd chance for himself.
Think back to Rasmus Højlund’s struggles at United. While it wasn’t all down to him, the Dane struggled to be a forward who’d reliably be on the end of chances.
Across his two years at United, the most shots he ever managed over any spell of four starts was nine; similarly, he only managed nine shots inside the box over any spell of four starts just once.
If we want to add a little more balance, we should of course remember that Sesko’s four most recent starts have included games against two of the promoted teams, including a Burnley side who already look doomed for relegation, and Wolves, who’ve lost 16 of their 21 Premier League matches this term.
It’s too early to be lauding Sesko. A return of five goals in 19 appearances is still a little underwhelming for such an expensive centre-forward, regardless of any extenuating circumstances pertaining to inexperience or adaptation.
But his recent form is promising. If Carrick can ensure that continues, the goals could really begin to flow for Sesko, and there’s every reason to think that may be decisive in the race for Champions League football.
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