Carrick rekindles Old Trafford magic in perfect start

MANCHESTER, England, Jan 17 : Michael Carrick was not getting carried away but after returning some of the missing magic to Manchester United in an exhilarating 2-0 derby win over Manchester City on Saturday those who doubt he is the club's saviour might be reconsidering.

The former midfielder's second stint as interim manager could not have begun any better as goals by Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sparked euphoric celebrations at Old Trafford.

It was not just the final score - a result that lifted United provisionally into the Premier League's top four - it was the performance that spoke volumes about the impact Carrick has had in just a few days.

This was a mauling. City were a distant second-best and, but for three disallowed goals, the woodwork and some heroics by their keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma they would have suffered the worst defeat against their rivals since 1995.

"The fans have been starved of that over the last few years. I know it's only one performance but I think everyone could see how exciting that team can be," Wayne Rooney, United's record goalscorer and former team mate of Carrick, told Sky Sports.

"You hear everyone, especially us as ex-players, talk about the United DNA and that has just shown what it is."

Carrick, who was undefeated in his three games as caretaker manager in 2021, answered the call again after the sacking of Ruben Amorim this month and will have until the end of the season to build a case for the permanent post.

If Saturday's display, full of attacking verve, defensive tenacity and energy, is anything to go by, the club's owners will surely have an easy decision to make.

There have been false dawns aplenty in recent seasons though and Carrick, who won five Premier League titles and the