Carrick's Illusion Stage at the Manchester Derby

MANCHESTER, FRIDAY — Interim coach of Manchester United, Michael Carrick, is akin to a magician. Whenever he arrives at a troubled club, he always manages to make problems disappear in an instant. This illusion will serve as hope for MU and a threat to Manchester City in the derby match.

MU will host City in the 22nd week match of the English League at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, on Saturday (17/1/2026) at 19:30 WIB. This match will mark Carrick's debut in his second era with "The Red Devils." He has been appointed to replace the previous interim coach, Darren Fletcher.

The appointment of Carrick is a symbol of the management's curiosity at MU. The former midfielder had previously assisted the club during a crisis, specifically at the end of 2021. Carrick led three matches, achieving impressive results, including a victory over Arsenal, but was not made permanent.

Carrick is now back with more experience after learning from the Championship Division team Middlesbrough for three seasons. "I hope we can play a style of football that is truly exciting, maintain a positive attitude, express ourselves, and bring joy," said the coach.

Before focusing on the opposing team, Carrick's main task is to identify issues within his own squad. MU has only won once in their last seven matches. Following the dismissal of coach Ruben Amorim, the situation has not improved. Under Fletcher, they have just been eliminated by Brighton in the FA Cup.

Under Amorim's leadership with a 3-4-3 formation, MU's attack was less potent. Their defense was fragile. Fletcher changed the formation to 4-2-3-1. As a result, the team's attack became more dangerous, but their defense was significantly more vulnerable. MU conceded four goals in two matches during Fletcher's era.

Fortunately, Carrick is already accustomed to being a "magician." At Middlesbrough, he arrived when the club was trapped in the relegation zone in the middle of the 2022-23 season. Carrick immediately ended the crisis by winning 13 out of his first 17 matches. Middlesbrough finished in the top four at the end of the season.

When Carrick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the middle of the 2021-22 season, MU was on a poor trend, having lost five out of seven league matches. Carrick was able to immediately stop the team's bleeding in two major matches, drawing 1-1 with Chelsea and winning 3-2 against Arsenal.

The key to his success is problem identification. Carrick does not have a specific playing philosophy or formation like Amorim. He can make Middlesbrough very offensive, but he can also transform Manchester United into a pragmatic team. It all depends on the situation and the squad's material.

In the away match against Chelsea in November 2021, for example, Carrick opted for a 4-3-1-2 formation without a pure striker. Wingers Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford were assigned to lead the attack. Manchester United only achieved 34.3% ball possession but successfully brought home one valuable point from Stamford Bridge Stadium.

According to the analysis of former English League player Adrian Clarke, a similar scheme may be repeated by Carrick. MU could utilize Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as a duo in the attacking line. The presence of a pure striker would cause MU to be significantly outmatched by City in the midfield.

Speaking of formations, Carrick is almost certain to revert to a four-defender scheme. His preferred formation is 4-2-3-1. He has utilized this formation 112 times out of 124 matches at Middlesbrough. "We just want to win the match. There are many ways to achieve that, with different scenarios depending on the situation during the game," said Carrick last Thursday.

As a player, the Manchester derby is Carrick's favorite fixture. MU has won 13 out of 24 matches against City during his time. Only Sunderland (16 times) has been defeated by him more often. Despite this record, Carrick will be experiencing his first derby match as a coach.

City came to disrupt the expectations of the neighboring team. The squad coached by Pep Guardiola is on fire following the arrival of winger Antoine Semenyo. City won 10-1 against Exeter City in the FA Cup and defeated Newcastle 2-0 in the League Cup. Semenyo contributed goals in both matches.

Nevertheless, City should remain cautious. Erling Haaland and his teammates are well aware of what it feels like to face a team undergoing a coaching transition. In the league match at the beginning of January, City was held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea, who were led by interim coach Callum McFarlane.

Reporter MU Adam Marshall described the atmosphere of MU's first training session in the Carrick era. According to him, the ambiance felt warm despite the cold weather. The players appeared enthusiastic to prove themselves in this new era. Optimism increased with the return of Mbeumo and Amad Diallo from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Wayne Rooney, the legendary striker of MU, stated that the appointment of Carrick is the right decision. "There are no top managers available at the moment. Certainly, that task will be difficult. The team is not in a good position, but Michael is capable of balancing the situation," he said on The Wayne Rooney Show podcast.

Carrick's story at Middlesbrough did not end on a sweet note. He was dismissed after two and a half seasons due to his inability to maintain the achievements of his first season. This is not bad news for MU, considering that "The Red Devils" have no intention of signing Carrick on a long-term basis. (AP/REUTERS)